LES MEGALITHES DE LA VALLEY DE NAPA

In the heart of Lore Lindu National Park, the Napu and Bada valleys offer a scenery as surprising as it is moving: hundreds of megaliths, called watu by the locals and arca in Indonesian, stand amidst rice fields and traditional houses. These stone statues, with their oversized heads and clean lines, evoke stylized human faces, sometimes marked with gender signs, sometimes enigmatic. Alongside them, kalamba - large stone jars with lids - recall ancient funerary customs. Dating remains uncertain: some researchers suggest several millennia, others more recent periods, giving the site a fascinating historical depth. Local legends abound: petrified statues, cursed or protective guardians, ritual offerings before opening up new lands - so many stories that bring these stones to life. Walking between the blocks, you can also hear of ancient rites, exchanges between communities and a cultural continuity that still links the inhabitants to their ancestors. Wooden houses, ijuk roofs and mango trees complete the picture, offering visitors a sensitive immersion in Lore culture. Easily accessible from Poso, the Napu Valley is well worth a visit: it invites contemplation, questioning and respect. Don't forget to preserve these silent witnesses to a rich and mysterious past.