Fadli Zon Inaugurates Laboratory at Lore Lindu Megalithic Site, Aiming to Become a Research Gateway for the World

JAKARTA - The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Fadli Zon inaugurated the Laboratory and Storage of the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region XVIII at the Watunonju Megalithic Site, Sigi Regency, Tuesday (30/12). This facility is designated as an information center as well as the gateway to the Lore Lindu area, to strengthen research, conservation, and management of cultural heritage.

In his remarks, Fadli Zon emphasized that laboratories and storage are an important foundation for a preservation ecosystem based on scientific and professional standards. According to him, the wealth of Central Sulawesi cultural heritage places this region strategically in the long history of human civilization.

"Central Sulawesi is often called the land of a thousand megaliths. The findings in this area show that Nusantara is not a new civilization, but has been developing since thousands, even tens of thousands of years ago," said Fadli Zon.

He emphasized that Lore Lindu is an important point of civilization, reflected in the granite carvings, menhir, kalamba, dolmen, and other megalithic structures. The existence of this new facility, he said, allows for more precise and safe conservation, documentation, and research.

Fadli Zon also assessed that the value of Lore Lindu goes beyond local and national interests. "This has global significance and is worth fighting for as a world cultural heritage," he said.

The BPK Laboratory and storage for Region XVIII is designed as a center for conservation, documentation, research, and management of objects and cultural heritage. Its function is expanded as an information center for researchers, students, tourists, and the public to understand the Lore Lindu megalithic area as a whole.

The inauguration was attended by the Governor of Central Sulawesi Anwar Hafid, Regent of Sigi Mohammad Rizal Intjenae, traditional figures Watunonju, artists, and cultural figures. Accompanied by the Director General of Cultural and Traditional Protection Restu Gunawan and Special Staff to the Minister Rachmanda Primayuda.

Closing the event, Fadli Zon hopes that this facility will encourage the development of national culture and have a direct impact on the surrounding community, as well as accelerate the steps of Lore Lindu from the tentative list to the designation of World Cultural Heritage.