National Museum exhibits century's finds<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After months of delay, the National Museum
\npresented the special exhibition Temuan Satu Abad, A Century of
\nFindings, to welcome the new millennium.<\/p>\n
The exhibition, which was officially opened by Vice President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri on Aug. 14 and runs until October,
\ndisplays more than 300 artifacts, cultural relics and art
\ntreasures found across Indonesia since l900.<\/p>\n
The exhibition is jointly organized by the museum, the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, the National Archaeological Research
\nCenter, the National Library, the Maritime Museum and several
\nother organizations.<\/p>\n
This particular exhibition is aimed at taking visitors on a
\ncultural excursion from l900 through l999. The displayed pieces
\nare among the most important finds within the century.<\/p>\n
The relics are arranged in six sections to reveal the
\ndevelopment of the country's cultural history.<\/p>\n
Visitors are first ushered into the prehistoric hall where
\nduplicates of fossils of homo erectus, or Trinil Man, found in
\nTrinil, East Java, in 1891, are on show. The section also
\npresents duplicates of fossils of homosoloensis, found in
\nNgandong, Surakarta in l931, and homo sapien, found in Wajak,
\nCentral Java, in l889.<\/p>\n
There also are fossils of prehistoric animals like mandibula
\nstegodon sumbaensis, found in East Sumba, and ancient buffaloes
\nand pigs found in Belu, West Timor. There also are portraits of
\nEugene Dubois, Heickel, GHR. Von Koenigswald, Peter Marks, T.
\nJacobs and S. Sartono, the scientists who discovered fossils of
\nprehistoric humans on Java and other locations in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The second section shows the social systems adopted by
\nIndonesian people from prehistoric to modern times.<\/p>\n
This section includes a display of implements used during the
\nNeolithic Age, such as hammers, grinding stones and sickle
\nblades. The relics range from simple farming tools, ritual
\ninstruments, various weapons to the more sophisticated royal
\nembellishments.<\/p>\n
According to archaeologist Agus Arismunandar, social life
\nbegan around 3,000 to 10,000 years ago.<\/p>\n
Exhibits shows the chronology of historical periods from the
\npre- and post-Hindu era to the Islamic era. A number of written
\nmanuscripts show local ruling kingdoms arrived on the scene
\nduring the Hindu period between the fourth and fifth centuries.
\nIslam entered the Nusantara archipelago around the 14th and 15th
\ncenturies.<\/p>\n
The arrival of Islam and the establishment of Islamic kingdoms
\nhad significant influence on the social and cultural patterns of
\nthe locals, as well as political systems.<\/p>\n
The next section, subtitled Teknologi dan Kesenian, Technology
\nand the Arts, shows such objects as clay figurines, household
\nutensils and farming tools. Other hallmark pieces include clay
\namulets, jars and pottery pieces painted in vivid and lustrous
\ncolors. A wide array of traditional textile, toys and jewelry
\nalso are displayed.<\/p>\n
Some of the most interesting collections include a selection
\nof priceless gold utensils and jewelry from the ninth and 10th
\ncenturies found in Wonoboyo, Klaten, Central Java, along with old
\nliterary manuscripts and hundreds of other precious items.<\/p>\n
The National Museum's director, Endang Sri Hardiati, said she
\nexpected visitors, especially students, to enjoy the exhibition.<\/p>\n
\"We are now promoting this exhibition among the city's schools
\nin order to educate the youngsters about their rich heritage,\"
\nEndang said.<\/p>\n
The museum also will organize workshops and seminars over the
\nnext several months to provide visitors with insightful
\ninformation about the exhibited items. (raw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-museum-exhibits-centurys-finds-1447893297",
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