A REFLECTION OF PAINTING TRADITION AND CULTURE OF THE AUSTRONESIAN BASED ON THE ROCK ART IN MISOOL, RAJA AMPAT, WEST PAPUA

Abstract

This article discusses rock art in Misool, Raja Ampat Region, West Papua, and thier relationship to the Austronesian speakers’ painting tradition and its cultures. This paper aims to relate the motifs in 10 rock art sites in Misool: Len Makana 1, Len Makana 2, Len Makana 3, Nu Tonton, Sun Bayo 1, Sun Bayo 2, Sun Malele 1, Sun Malele 2, Sun Malele 3, and Sun Malele 4. It examines the paintings in terms of Ballard and O’Connor’s concept of the Austronesian Painting Tradition (APT). This study shows that there are some indications of Austronesian cultures depicted in rock art motifs in Misool, which can be categorised as APT. These indications consist of: the sites located in the distribution area of Austronesian language, the motifs locations, and the depiction of motifs such as hand-stencils, anthropomorphic, face or mask images, sun motifs, stone artifacts, and boats.