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Sumba island has a great and unique position respect
to the Sunda Banda archipelagoes, it is one of the biggest island
on the East Nusa Tenggara region beside Flores and Timor. It represents
an isolated sliver of probable continental crust to the south of
active volcanic islands (Sumbawa, Flores ) within the forearc basin
(Fig.1). It is situated to the north of passage from the Java Trench
(subduction front) to the Timor Through (collision front). It does
not show still the effects of strong compression in contrast to
islands of the outer arc system (Savu, Roti, Timor), while the magmatic
units make up a substantial part of the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene
stratigraphy.
Sumba island covers an area of 11,150 square km
which is now populated by about 350,000 people. Generally the climate
similar to other part of Indonesia where a dry season (May to November),
and a rainy season (December to April). The island of Sumba is well
known of its sandlewood, horses, impressive megalithic tombs, typical
hand woven textile ("ikat"), and still untouched beautiful
beaches. There are two entering point in to Sumba island from anywhere
in the Lesser Waingapu & Waikabubak (Tambolaka). These are the
people could enter Sumba for either by flight or boat.
Sumba has a unique culture and their social life.
Sumbanese are traditionally divided into three level of social life
: (Raja/King) - Maramba, Customary Official - Kabihu, and Slaves
- Ata. Sumbanese are living from farming, cattle breeding, rice-field
farming and trading. Ones owns cattle will contribute to their social
status such as if they had more cattle giving them a higher social
status.
Most Sumbanese are Christian (Catholic and Protestant),
however, and part of them are still strongly keep their native and
original religion called Marapu. Most cultural objects are related
to the Marapu religion such as the shape of traditional houses,
ceremonies, or kings' graves and tombs.
The Customary houses designed in high-peaked roof
to store the heirlooms and store. It is divided into male and female
section, and generally surrounded by impressive megalithic tombs.
Their famous ceremony are the wedding and funerals. where they usually
sacrificed animals pigs, buffaloes, cattle, and horses.
The Megalithic tombs are made from the hard stone
forming the megalithic shape. This covered by rectangle flat stone
supported by four pillars about 1,5 meters high. The Megalithic
tombs are actually located in the front of their houses
A primitive Sumbanese art objects strongly related
with a social functions of Merapu belief. The carved stones and
wood statues are representing the death, Merapu, and as medium for
their contact. Metal ornaments and jewelry are usually for wedding
ceremonies, and are related to the social status
Sumba Island has a unique position with respect
to the Sunda-Banda arc as it represents an isolated sliver of probable
continental crust to the south of active volcanic islands (Sumbawa,
Flores ) within the forearc basin (Fig.1). It is situated to the
north of passage from the Java Trench (subduction front) to the
Timor Through (collision front). It does not show still the effects
of strong compression in contrast to islands of the outer arc system
(Savu, Roti, Timor), while the magmatic units make up a substantial
part of the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene stratigraphy.
   
Bathymetrically, Sumba stands out as a ridge that
separates the Savu forearc basin (> 3000 m depth) in the east
and the Lombok forearc basin (> 4000 m depth) in the west. Seismic
refraction studies show (Barber et al., 1981) that it is made up
of 24 km thick continental crust (Chamalaun et al., 1981). Based
on the results of tectonic studies helped by paleomagnetism and
geochemistry, several workers considered Sumba as a microcontinent
or a continental fragment (Hamilton, 1979 ; Chamalaun and Sunata,
1982 ; Wensink, 1994, 1997 ; Vroon et al., 1996 ; Soeria-Atmadja
et al., 1998 ).
Three main geodynamic models for Sumba have been
reviewed by Chamalaun et al. (1982) and Wensink (1994) as follows
: (i) Sumba was originally a part of the Australian Continent which
was detached afterwards when the Wharton basin was formed, drifted
northwards and subsequently trapped behind the eastern Java Trench
(Audley-Charles, 1975 ; Otofuji et al., 1981), (ii) Sumba was once
part of Sundaland which was drifted southwards during the opening
of the Flores Basin (Hamilton,1979, Von der Borch et al., 1983 ;
Rangin et al., 1990) and (iii) Sumba was either a microcontinent
or part of a larger continent within the Tethys, which later was
fragmented (Chamalaun and Sunata, 1982).
Three distinct calc-alkaline magmatic episodes
have been recorded during Cretaceous - Paleogene, all of them characterized
by nearly similar rock assemblages (i.e pyroclastic rocks, basaltic
- andesitic lava flows and granodioritic intrusions). They are respectively
(i) the Santonian - Campanian episode (86-77 Ma) represented by
volcanic and plutonic rock exposures in the Masu Complex from Eastern
Sumba, (ii) the Maastrichtian-Thanetian episode (71-56 Ma) represented
by the volcanic and plutonic units of Sendikari Bay, Tengairi Bay
and the Tanadaro Complex in Central Sumba and finally (iii) the
Lutetian - Rupelian episode (42-31 Ma) of which the products are
exposed at Lamboya and Jawila in western part of Sumba. No evidence
of Neogene magmatic activity has been recorded so far.
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Exploring Sumba Island
(A unique culture still exist)
Join the various duration on our adventure trip to Sumba island
see the unique culture and come in to the original hand of
Ikat weaving which no body could make like their own style.
Sumba Adventure Package Options
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Pasola Ritual War (Un-usual Event)
Pasola Ritual War is only twice a year during the month
of February and March. There are some ceremonies will be held
before the war.
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| East Nusa Tenggara Adventure Trip |
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