Sungga: Banjar's Trap Weapon in the War Against the Dutch

RRI.CO.ID, Banjarmasin - Sungga is a traditional weapon from South Kalimantan used by Banjar fighters during the Banjar War. Its distinctive design served as a defensive trap against Dutch forces at Gunung Madang Fort.

The Banjar War was a prolonged resistance against Dutch colonial rule from 1859 to 1905. During the conflict, Banjar fighters used local terrain and defensive strategies to confront better-equipped Dutch forces.

Sungga was placed beneath a bridge along a route used by attacking Dutch troops. The bridge was designed to collapse when crossed, causing soldiers to fall toward the pointed Sungga below.

Unlike weapons used directly in close combat, Sungga depended on careful positioning and battlefield construction. Its use demonstrates how Banjar fighters adapted their defenses to the surrounding terrain during the conflict.

Sungga has a shape resembling an arrow or spear, with a pointed tip and two wing-like sections. The central components resemble leaves or arrowheads, giving the weapon its distinctive appearance.

According to documentation from the Lambung Mangkurat Museum, the main body was made from elongated steel. The wing-like sections were also made from steel and attached using bolts.

Today, Sungga is no longer used as a weapon in warfare. An example is preserved in the Lambung Mangkurat Museum as part of its collection documenting South Kalimantan's history and culture.

The weapon provides material evidence of the Banjar people's resistance against Dutch colonialism in the nineteenth century. Its preservation also helps researchers examine traditional military strategies and defensive technology.

Visitors interested in learning about Sungga can explore the Lambung Mangkurat Museum in Banjarbaru. The museum preserves and presents collections related to the natural and cultural heritage of South Kalimantan.