The landscape of ore smelting site on Montalat sub-watershed, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Ore smelting sites in the Montallat sub-watershed are located in forested areas away from settlements. Based on the dating analysis of charcoal obtained from excavations, these sites date from the 16th until the 19th century CE. The hypothesis for this research project was that smelters chose the locations of iron smelting sites based on certain ecological considerations. This research aims to analyse and explain existing ore smelting sites with relation to environmental resources. Smelting site data were obtained through surveys, interviews, and excavations. Environmental resource data was obtained through surveys and spatial data studies using Sentinel satellite image digitization, DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data, and thematic maps. The spatial data was analysed descriptively with simple statistics and interpreted with a cultural ecology approach. The results show that smelting sites were in places not too high in elevation, on flat land or low slopes, and near rivers, which facilitated access from the material source to smelting locations and settlements. The placement of smelting sites depended on specific ecological resources that supported the iron industry. Although ore smelting was abandoned, it remains in the Montallat community’s collective memory.