Archeological sites' destruction lamented<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): An archeologist over the weekend lamented the
\nnationwide destruction of historical sites to make way for
\nindustrial projects.<\/p>\n
Mundardjito, a lecturer of archaeology and anthropology at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, said the incidence of sites converted
\ninto industrial projects showed that historical sites were
\nconsidered less important than industrial development, which
\npromises prosperity.<\/p>\n
Historical sites are those thought to contain valuable
\narcheological remains that reflect the systems, community and
\ntechnology of past societies.<\/p>\n
According to Mundardjito, only a few historical sites have
\nbeen properly maintained, such as the Muara Takus Buddha shrine
\nin Riau and a brick shrine in Jambi.<\/p>\n
The rest of the historical and prehistorical sites were simply
\nignored, he said, citing the ancient city of Majapahit in
\nTrowulan, East Java, where a brick industry now flourishes.<\/p>\n
A similar fate has befallen the Bukit Kerang prehistorical
\nsite on the East Aceh coast, where human bones, shells, remnants
\nof cooking and Hosbinh stone instruments have been discovered but
\nsince annihilated because of limestone mining.<\/p>\n
\"There are many other examples, such as the prehistorical
\ncaves of Bojonegoro, East Java, that were turned into an airport
\nand an industrial estate extension,\" he said.<\/p>\n
These examples reflect archeology's helplessness when facing
\nintervention by authorities and development jargon, Mundardjito
\nsaid in an address to a workshop titled Social Environment
\nTraining Methodologies at Diponegoro University in Semarang.<\/p>\n
Mundardjito called for a massive cultural preservation
\ncampaign to keep up with environmental preservation, especially
\nsince archeological data was limited.<\/p>\n
\"Specifically because information on the topic is very
\nlimited, the presence of historical sites must be conserved to
\ngather and record information,\" Mundardjito said, adding that
\nresearch and conservation were equally important.<\/p>\n
\"Archeologists need to conserve historical sites as a part of
\nculture's preservation,\" he said. (har\/14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/archeological-sites-destruction-lamented-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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