Papua has a wonderful charm of nature tourism and a variety of benefits available to visitors. These include visitors interested in Papuan history. One of the historical tourist attractions in Papua is the Tapurarang Archaeological Site. Located in Fakfak district, this site offers natural beauty in the form of beaches, caves and beautiful islands. But behind the beauty that this site offers lies a mystical influence. Piles of skulls and hand drawings on the cave’s blood-red walls add to the mystical feel. Not to mention the legends and myths that accompany the Tapurarang archaeological site. However, this site is a place don’t have to miss when visiting Papua.
The Tapurarang archaeological site has a mystical influence, but it’s really just a story. Piles of skulls found on different sides of the cave are remnants of the ancient customs and culture of the surrounding community. You can say that this ancient place is a cemetery. It is therefore natural that many of the skulls are scattered. Another thing that gives the Tapurarang archaeological site a mysterious touch is the red painting of handprints. The red color, which looks like the color of blood with piles of skulls and bones around it, really adds to the mystical feel. In addition to paintings of handprints, there are also prints of animals such as dolphins, as well as fishing tools, indicating that the cave is a medium for telling stories about the survival activities of ancient people during hunting.
Historical tourism with a mystical influence becomes even more interesting if it is flavored with mystical stories. A mysterious legend has been told from time to time at the Tapurarang archaeological site. It is said that one day the grandmother of the group took a boat through the cave. But an accident happened, grandma fell out of the boat and drowned. The other passengers did not try to save the poor grandmother. The grandmother’s spirit, unable to accept that she could not be saved, finally took revenge by sinking the ships that passed through the cave. Scattered skulls and bones are said to be victims of the grandmother’s evil spirit curse.
These mysterious stories were eventually uncovered through several investigations. Ever since the Dutch were in Indonesia, Dutch archaeologists have been asking locals to clean the bones and skulls. But the community refused because they still believed that it was forbidden to move the graves of their ancestors. The image of blood-red hands is not actually blood, but a plant sap of the same color.
Although the archaeological site of Tapurarang is full of mysterious stories, it remains an attractive tourist destination. It is surrounded by water and small islands, adding to the beautiful scenery. The water is clear and shady due to the surrounding mangrove forests, making this place a destination for tourists who want to enjoy Papua’s natural beauty and learn about its history.
