From the prehistoric hours to the 20th century, the stone shade is still a cutting tool and is used as a self-maintaining tool of enemy attacks.
But for people and tribes in the Sentani area, a stone shade or a stone tomako already has no function as a cutting tool but as a social function in the local society culture, as a mascot payment tool, a denda paid tool, or as a grant (present) to people.
Stone crafts that are still widely found in Sentani. They usually invigorating Sentani lakes to look for stones used as stone tomako. For mahar or maskawin, stone size is about 10-30 cm. The number of stone shades used as a paid tool can reach hundreds submitted by the male family to the female and coupled with money.
Tomako stone, beads and money prepared by the tribe of Olua (the male) for mahar in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
Perajin saw stone that will be used as Tomako Batu in Sentani, Jayapura City, Papua. Children Ondoafi Mebri, Johanis Mebri has a stone to see the original color on the edge of Sentani Lake, Jayapura City, Papua.
According to one of the stone crafts, Edwin Epaa (41), the peculiarities of the stone tomako are the color according to the original without any painting after it is smoothed for the mascara. In the selection of types of stones, it should be completely qualified and not the origins because the stone tomako is used as a treasure of descendants.
"To see the color of the stone, usually the craft of the stone. If the color is light green and dark green as well as the end of the stone is hydrated, coupled with beautifully coarse fibers, then the stone has high quality." Edwin said.
There are 10 types of stone tomako that are considered as a property at once the self-esteem of the Mebri tribe, namely allowae hawa phu, alowaeÊ nokom phu, alowae Hebhe, yengge fee, khonge, yalobho, punkhu, bhulu, angguangge ro, hawa bhu.
The craft cut stone using hand gurinda machine in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
Perajin rubs stone tomako while doing the stone to be used as mahar or maskawin in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
In addition there is a beads consisting of three pairs. Yellow color called Hate, Nokho blue color and green color is Hawa with beads binding material usually from wood fiber.
Photo and Text : Indrayadi TH
Ratusan tomako stone, beads and money from the tribe of Olua (the male) as a mahar for women from the Mebri tribe in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
The mother of the daughter of the Mebri (right) asked the mahar value to be raised in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
The stone and beads are ready to be used as mahar or masawin in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
The tribe of Olua (the male) discussed the request of the Mebri (female) tribe about the large amount of tomako stone in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
The tribe of Olua (the male) prepare money to be paid together with stone tomako to Mebri (female) in Yoka Village, Jayapura City, Papua.
Editor : Prasetyo Utomo
