Bahutara Toponymy in Kontukowuna District, Muna Regency: An Etymological, Historical, and Cultural Identity Analysis

Abstrak

This study aims to analyze the toponymy of Bahutara in Kontukowuna District, Muna Regency, through the perspectives of etymology, history, and cultural identity. The research employed the historical method using a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through interviews with community leaders, traditional leaders, and village officials, supported by literature review, field observation, and documentation. Data analysis followed the stages of heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography to produce a reliable historical reconstruction. The findings reveal that the name Bahutara is derived from the word bahtera (ark or large boat), which is associated with a rock resembling a ship and the oral tradition concerning the voyage of Sawerigading preserved by the Muna community. The toponym embodies geographical, physical, social, historical, and symbolic meanings that collectively shape the cultural identity of the local community. Furthermore, Bahutara functions as a medium for preserving collective memory by recording the relationship between people, their environment, historical experiences, and inherited cultural values. The findings demonstrate that toponymy serves not merely as a geographical label but also as a cultural archive that preserves local history and community identity. This study contributes to the preservation of local history, the development of toponymic studies, and the strengthening of the cultural identity of the Muna community.

Kata kunci

• Bahutara
• Cultural Identity
• toponymy