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Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi
Tengah) is a province of Indonesia located in the heart
of Sulawesi. It was established on April 13, 1964.
Central Sulawesi has an area of 68,033 km˛ (26,268 sq
mi) and is surrounded
by Gorontalo in the north, South Sulawesi and South East
Sulawesi in the south, Maluku in the east, and the
Makassar Strait in the west.
Regencies
The Central Sulawesi province is divided into several
regencies and one municipality:
* Banggai
* Banggai Island
* Buol Regency
* Donggala Regency
* Morowali
* Parigi Moutong
* Poso Regency
* Tojo Una-Una
* Toli-Toli
* Palu (municipality)
Geography and Climate
The Province of
Central Sulawesi is located between latitudes 2 d
egrees
north and 3 degrees 4' south, and longitudes 110 degrees
22' and 124 degrees 20' east. It is bounded in the north
by the Sulawesi Sea (Celebes Sea) and the province of
Gorontalo; in the South by the province of South
Sulawesi and southeast Sulawesi; in the west by the
Makasar Strait and in the east by Taliabu Island and the
Maluku sea. It covers an area of 68,033 square
kilometers with the population of about 1,538,000
people.
The climate is in general influenced by two seasons, a
dry and a rainy. The first lasts from October to April,
the second from April to October, marked by heavy
rainfall. The air temperatures ranges from 20 degrees to
31 degrees Celsius and the average humidity is of 72 to
76 percent.
Brief History
Central Sulawesi's historical background remains partly
undisclosed, despite the research that has been done
since the early decades of this century. Among others by
the European scholars Albert C. Kruyt, in 1909, and
Kaudern in 1917-1920. Studies were made, for instance,
in the Poso regency, around the districts of North and
South Lore, and North and South Pamona. In the Donggala
regency, similar work was under taken in the Kuwali
district, particularly around Biromaru and Dolo.
Up to this moment,
86 kalamba ( dialects of Bada-Poso ) have been recorded.
Found also were some big and round stone vessels,
believed to be containers for bones. Further to the
north, many ornament in the shape of animals were found.
The regency of Poso seems to be rich in relics of the
megalith era. For example, in Tentena village, east of
Lake Poso, several caves were found containing bones and
imprints of the palm of human hands. A number of menhirs
were also found. Similar finds were made in Kolonedale.
Covered stone jars were found in Lore and Koro.
Fifty-eight pounding stones were found in the Palu
Valley of Donggala, in Napu, Bada and Besoa, around Poso.
Not less than 26 vatutau, or stone statues, were found
in Kili Pamona, Poso regency. Found were also grinding
stones, stone blocks with small holes, and small
pounding blocks.
Found in the surroundings of Pamona were nine pieces of
bronze axes, in the Palu district.
According to estimates, such prehistoric sites could
have existed since 55 years before the Christian era.
Almost all the megalithic items of Central Sulawesi were
scattered across the highlands of Bada, Napu and Besoa.
These areas are inhabited by the Lore people, who live
along the Lariang river, the longest river in Sulawesi.
Other finds dated from around the time of the arrival of
Islam, such as a temple like structure called a Lobo.
Also dwellings called tambi and duhanga.
Islam entered Central Sulawesi through Donggala and Palu,
approximately around the beginning of the 15th century,
first, from Makasar, in 1403, then from Ternate, in
about 1470.
Islam was brought from the Minangkabau to the Kaili
Valley by Dato Karam, who came by boat. The first to be
converted to Islam was King Kaboneka I Pue Nyidi. In
obeisance to the teachings of Islam, he exchanged his
loincloth for a sarong when praying.
The Arabs are presumed to be the ones who introduced
Islam to this area. However, written evidence is
lacking.
The first Europeans to come to Central Sulawesi were the
Portuguese, who came to trade with the kings. In 1905,
the Dutch arrived, causing a string of revolts, such as
those that occurred in SIG-Dolo, Claw and Bangui
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