The Ngorek of the Central Highlands and ‘Megalithic’ Activity in Borneo

Abstract

Archaeological and ethnohistorical inquiries into the Ngorek Dayak and culturally related groups formerly or presently occupying vast expanses in the central northern highlands of Borneo and into their funerary and other types of stone monuments have allowed for a reconstruction of their history and a description of their cultural practices, particularly their staged treatment of the dead. A discussion of what ‘megalithic’ means in Borneo suggests that, while monument size, actual use of stone material, and funerary function are not suitable defining criteria, practices of performing various types of monumental works to fulfill various functions are primarily meant to leave durably visible testimonies to wealthy individuals’ or family groups’ capacity to mobilize large work forces. The lavish redistributive feasts held by these sponsors on such occasions, being both a display of power and a means to gain more prestige, can only make sense in open competitive societies with high spatial and social mobility, in which people are compelled to convert whatever excess wealth they have into social prestige. ‘Megalithic’ activity, therefore, should be regarded here as but one feature among others of a more or less universal and timeless expression of standard social strategies in such types of competitive societies.

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