Deputy Minister for P2MI Donates Drones to Support Archaeological Research in South Sulawesi

MAKASSAR — The Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Hasanuddin University, has received a donation of one unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) from Mr Dzulfikar Ahmad Tawalla, Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI). The handover ceremony took place on Monday, 13 July 2026, at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Hasanuddin University.

The donation was received directly by Dr Wahyudin, S.S., M.Hum., Deputy Dean III for Partnerships, Research, Innovation and Alumni Affairs at FIB Unhas, on behalf of the Department of Archaeology. Also present at the event were Dr Rosmawati, S.S., M.Si., Deputy Dean II for Planning and Resources at FIB Unhas; the Head of the Sulawesi Archaeology Research Collaboration Centre (PKR), Prof. Akin Duli, M.A.; and the Head of the Department of Archaeology at FIB Unhas, Dr Yadi Mulyadi, M.A.

Mr Dzulfikar, who was born in Sungguminasa, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, presented the donation in a personal capacity as a demonstration of his commitment to the advancement of archaeological research in his homeland. The donated drone will be utilised to support aerial mapping and documentation requirements in various archaeological research activities carried out by the academic community of the Department of Archaeology at Unhas, including site landscape surveys, the documentation of cultural heritage areas, and other field research activities requiring an aerial perspective.

In his remarks, Dr Wahyudin expressed his appreciation for Mr Dzulfikar’s commitment to the advancement of archaeological research in South Sulawesi, and emphasised that the donation would be utilised to the full to support various research initiatives within the Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Unhas.

In line with this, Prof. Akin Duli emphasised that support in the form of research equipment such as this is of great significance for the development of technology-based archaeological research methodologies, particularly in the mapping of sites and the analysis of archaeological landscapes in South Sulawesi — a region with a wealth of archaeological data that continues to grow, ranging from prehistoric traces to landscapes shaped by colonial-era conflicts and the Pacific War.

In a warm atmosphere, Mr Dzulfikar also expressed the hope that research into prehistoric archaeology in South Sulawesi would not be confined solely to the Maros and Pangkep regions — which have long been widely recognised for their cave sites and rock art — but would also extend to other areas, including Gowa Regency, which is believed to harbour significant untapped archaeological potential.

This event represents a form of collaboration between individuals, academics and policy-makers in supporting the advancement of archaeological research in Indonesia, particularly in Eastern Indonesia. The Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Hasanuddin, would like to express its gratitude for the trust and support shown, and hopes that similar collaborations will continue to be fostered for the advancement of archaeological science in the future.