Poin Utama
- A rare carved megalithic menhir in Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, requires urgent protection from damage and environmental degradation.
- BPK Bengkulu is working with local authorities to preserve the site and develop it as a cultural and tourism landmark.
RRI.CO.ID, Rejang Lebong - An ancient megalithic menhir bearing rare historic relief carvings has become the central focus of new cultural conservation efforts in Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province.
The prehistoric stone pillar stands in Lawang Agung Village, Sindang Beliti Ulu Subdistrict, situated within a resident-owned coffee plantation. Unlike typical unadorned standing stones, the Lawang Agung menhir is covered in detailed stone carvings that illustrate the ancient social life, belief systems, and oral legends of early communities in the region.
Speaking at a cultural gathering on Monday, September 14, 2026, Bengkulu Cultural Heritage Preservation Center (BPK) Head Iskandar Mulia Siregar warned that without immediate physical protection and formal site management, the rare megalith risks environmental weathering, physical damage, or permanent loss.
To prevent degradation, BPK Bengkulu is partnering with the Rejang Lebong Regency Administration to transform the prehistoric artifact into a protected cultural landmark and heritage tourism destination. Heritage authorities emphasized that prehistoric megalithic structures represent irreplaceable physical records of regional identity that require structured administration maintenance and community support.
"The historic menhir stone possesses exceptionally high cultural value, requiring sustainable protection and care measures so that this heritage is not damaged or lost, I hope the megalithic menhir stone in Lawang Agung Village, Sindang Beliti Ulu Subdistrict, can be developed into a regional cultural icon as well as a tourist attraction," Iskandar said in Rejang Lebong on Monday, September 14, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
He noted the role of national preservation agencies in channeling financial resources toward physical and intangible heritage care. "The BPK strives to protect Bengkulu's local culture, for group activities, we allocate a budget of IDR 40 million, while for individual activities, IDR 20 million is prepared to safeguard historical and cultural heritage that holds vital value for the sustainability of regional identity," Iskandar explained regarding BPK's institutional role across 33 provinces. ***
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