Lemo Stone Grave On The Stone Wall Of The Cliff In Tana Toraja Regency

Lemo is one of villages located in Tana Toraja district, famous for its stone grave that has a long history and exposed officially since 1960. The distance from downtown Rantepao to the site is about 12 km.

During the civil war that occurred in the mid-17th century, the village of Lemo was designed as a fortress by Songgi Patalo, a nobleman and customary chief to protect the people in the village of Lemo. When the civil war ended and the peaceful treaty is made, it was turned into a grave on the orders of Songgi Patalo and later called Lemo because it resembles Lemo (pomelo).

Lemo stone grave on the cliff is square where its interior (called Liang) is enough large to accommodate the whole family members. Each grave is carved by two people using simple tools such as hammers, chisels and bamboo as a ladder. Modern tools are not used because they can cause large cracks on the cliff.

The price of each grave can reach 80 million rupiah-depending on the area of the grave's interior and the hardness of the rocks and it carves than two years.

The door of the grave is made by wood or concrete. The wood door indicates there is still space for the next body. It will be closed by concrete if all family members have been buried.

The position of the grave on the cliff has a philosophical meaning where the higher the position the grave on the cliff, the higher the status of the dead in the society and the closer the spirit of the dead to reach Puya (next world).

Grave for noble descents

Lemo stone grave are not intended for the entire population of Lemo village. It only belongs to the noble families. The oldest grave belongs to Songgi Patalo located on top of the cliff. At present, there are around 75 graves on the cliff.  

Tau-Tau in Lemo

Philosophically, Tau-tau is a visual representation of the dead that is believed to have a spirit. In Lemo, the Tau-Tau are clothed in red, yellow and white and placed on the niche of the cliff. Their right hands are facing up and left hands are facing down and describe life and death. In other hand, the spirit of the dead only reaches next world (Puya) if their family holds the funeral ceremony. These spirits will protect and bless them in the life.

To make Tau-tau, the family of the dead must prepare minimum 24 buffaloes for each funeral ceremony. The type of wood used to make Tau-tau varies, one of them is jackfruit wood. It is chosen because it has white sap that symbolises purity. Each Tau-tau is carved by one person using simple tools such as chisels and hammers.

How to get there

If you stay around downtown Rantepao, you could reach it in less than 20 minutes, either by a car or by motorbike.

Toraja Funeral Ceremony: An Ancient Tradition Still Keeps Going In The Modern Era

Funeral ceremony or known as Rambu Solo or Aluk Rampe Matampu is an ancient tradition that comes from Toraja ancestors. It aims to deliver the spirit of the dead reaching next world (called Puya), to transform the spirit becoming a god (called To Membali Puang) and the way to respect for the dead.

Although most of Toraja people already accept Christian religion, it is still held until now. In the past, it was only for noble families - not for people from the lower social status. During that time, social status still played a major role in the life of the Toraja people. Below are four social statuses in the Toraja society.

1. Tana' Bulawan is the highest noble group

2. Tana' Bassi is the middle noble group

3. Tana' Karurung belongs to common people

4. Tana' Karurung is the group of servants

The first and second groups are allowed to hold the funeral ceremony while the other not.

For the fourth social status, it is no longer valid, removed and banned since the Dutch came to Toraja in the colonial period in Indonesia.

Nowadays, funeral ceremony can be held by all families as long as they have enough money. But, there are a few differences between families from noble generation when they make funeral ceremony. For example, wooden effigy of the dead is made only for noble families and the duration of their funeral ceremony can take up 2 weeks and so on. 

How do family take care the dead before the funeral ceremony begins
When one of family member passes away, his body will be immediately injected with formaldehyde to prevent the decay, then wrapped in clothes and kept in the house or traditional house (called Tongkonan). It can take months or even years. During this time, the dead considered as a sick person (called To Makula). Food and drink are still offered every day because it is believed that the spirit of the dead is still around the house. One-way communication still happens between family members and the dead.

Buffalo Slaughtering at Funeral 

The reason why the dead is kept in the house for a certain period. 

1. The cost

Indeed, the funeral ceremony requires a huge cost. It can reach hundreds of millions or even more than billion of rupiah. Therefore, not a few mourning families save money in advance. They will work hard to accomplish their financial target.   

The other things which make the cost higher for it is the social status and the successful career from the deceased's children. In other words: the higher status of family in Torajan society, the higher the cost needs and the richer the children of the dead, the more expensive of the ceremony.           
 
2. It takes a lot of time to gather the whole family members

Although the mourning families come from a wealthy family, it does not mean, will be held as soon as possible. A lot of Toraja people live and work outside of Toraja region. They need to adjust between their work condition and the schedule of funeral. Therefore, mostly take place during long holiday.

Where is the funeral procession held?

The place for funeral processions can take place around traditional houses and rice barns or in large fields (called Rante). For certain reasons, it can be held around the house of the dead. Temporary buildings (called Lantang) will be built around these places to accommodate families, relatives and guests during the procession of the ceremony.

The main offerings at Funeral

1. Buffalo

Buffalo is only prepared for the funeral ceremony. In the animist belief, it is a symbol of the ride for the spirit of the dead to the next world. The more buffaloes the family sacrifices, the faster the spirit of the dead arrives there.

The number of buffalo at the funeral varies, depends on financial ability of the family. The richer the family, the more buffaloes they prepare for it.

On the day of buffalo slaughtering, mostly buffaloes will be slaughtered and the rest will be usually donated to the church and local people of the village. Each buffalo slaughtered, will be taxed by the government. The meat will be distributed according to customary rule.

2. Pig

Pig is mostly slaughtered by the family during the procession. The pig that comes from the guest is a symbol of empathy and debt. The name of the guest will be noted by the family. If the guest later holds the ceremony, the family of the dead will bring the same donation.