Exploring Ethnomathematical Elements in Tongkonan Traditional House Architecture as A Learning Resource for Developing Cultural Literacy and Numeracy Among Junior High School Students

Ethnomathematics provides a meaningful connection between formal mathematical knowledge and the cultural practices embedded in students’ everyday lives. As one of the cultural heritages of the Toraja community, the Tongkonan traditional house contains various structural and visual elements that reflect mathematical ideas developed and transmitted through generations. This study aims to explore the ethnomathematical elements embedded in Tongkonan architecture and examine their potential as a contextual mathematics learning resource for developing cultural literacy and numeracy among students at SMPN 2 Kapala Pitu. This study employed a qualitative exploratory approach. Data were obtained through a literature review, indirect observation of Tongkonan architectural structures, and analysis of visual documentation. The data were analyzed descriptively through data reduction, categorization of mathematical elements, and interpretation of their potential applications in mathematics learning. The findings indicate that Tongkonan architecture embodies several mathematical concepts relevant to junior secondary school mathematics, including plane and solid geometry, symmetry, geometric transformations, numerical patterns, ratios, and proportions. These mathematical elements are manifested in the structural forms, spatial arrangements, proportions, and decorative patterns of the Tongkonan. Integrating these cultural elements into mathematics learning provides opportunities for students to explore mathematical concepts through contexts that are familiar and meaningful to them. Furthermore, the use of Tongkonan as a learning resource has the potential to support students’ numeracy by engaging them in interpreting shapes, patterns, measurements, and quantitative relationships, while simultaneously fostering cultural literacy through appreciation and understanding of local cultural heritage. Thus, Tongkonan architecture represents a valuable culturally responsive learning resource that can connect mathematical knowledge with local cultural identity.