"The Bukit Kerang site and the Malay House have a long history of more than a century old, which will definitely attract domestic and international tourists," acting head of the Riau Islands Tourism Office, Luki Zaiman Prawira, said here on Wednesday.
Through a gubernatorial decree following a district head's decree in 2017, the Bukit Kerang site and Rumah Melayu were designated as cultural heritages on September 2, 2022, head of the Bintan Tourism Office, Arif Sumarsono, informed.
"The Bukit Kerang and Rumah Melayu sites are not really popular outside Bintan Island, so we will promote them to attract tourists," he said.
Bukit Kerang is located in an oil palm plantation in Kawal Darat, Gunung Kijang sub-district, five kilometers from the coastline.
Bukit Kerang is essentially a hill formed from piles of shells of mollusks that live in brackish water and muddy estuaries, which have been consumed by coastal communities in the past and even now.
Some artifacts have also been found around the site such as scavenging tools, tools crafted from clam shells, hand axes, as well as fragments of skulls.
Meanwhile, the Malay House, also known as Rumah Tua, or Old House, is located 100 meters from a Navy post in Berakit village.
The pyramid-shaped house was built by Haji Jalil and his son Haji Akob in 1908, and has been inhabited since 1911. The house is still inhabited by Ali Wardana, 40, the great-grandchild of Haji Jalil, who works as a traditional fisherman.
The house was inherited by Hanawati, Wardana's female cousin.
"Inheritance is given to women not because of custom, but rather they are closer to their parents, while men spend more time working," Wardana explained.
The shape of the stilt house was never changed, including the foundation made from kapor and merbau (intsia) wood.
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Translator: Nikolas P, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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