Sangiran: Preserving history and heritage<\/p>\n
Frangois Simah, Institut de, Paliontologie Humaine, Paris and
\nTruman Simanjuntak, Center for Archaeological Research, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Thoroughly studied for almost 70 years, the Sangiran dome,
\nCentral Java, one of the most important places to understand the
\nhistory of ancient humans in Asia, deserves to enter the World
\nHeritage list.<\/p>\n
Before and just after becoming reality, this project had to be
\nstrongly supported for many years by senior Indonesian scientists
\nand boosted by Edy Sedyawati, the archeology professor who was a
\ndirector general of culture as well as by specialists of the
\nsite.<\/p>\n
The government at the national, provincial and regency levels,
\nfrom the state minister for tourism and culture to the regent of
\nSragen, have demonstrated their concern for the conservation and
\nthe development of this treasure. Their concern is also shared by
\nscientists and of the UNESCO.<\/p>\n
As researchers who worked on the site for so many years -- and
\ntherefore love it -- we can barely disguise our enthusiasm to see
\nso many people endeavoring to work together for the development
\nof the site.<\/p>\n
Two noticeable events are to be highlighted in that view: The
\ninternational seminar organized by the government and UNESCO in
\nApril last year and the visit of State Minister of Tourism I Gede
\nArdika to the site last August, together with regent Untung
\nWiyono.<\/p>\n
But the more complex a site, the more difficult it is to
\nensure its development. Sangiran cannot be said to be a "normal"
\nworld heritage site, it is a place full of secrets but the
\nsmallest part of them. Natural sites like Ha Long Bay in Vietnam
\nmust see their natural character protected (ecology,
\nbiodiversity, etc). Architectural sites (like Borobudur) must be
\nrestored and carefully developed for tourism.<\/p>\n
But what is there in Sangiran? Merely hills, fields and rivers
\nwhich resemble so much the hills, fields and rivers we enjoy to
\nvisit all over beautiful Java. In fact, what is part of our
\ncommon world heritage is secretly enclosed in the earth: Stones,
\nbones, sands, earth, which are not so beautiful by themselves,
\nbut whose beauty lays only in the stories of ancient humankind
\nthey tell us.<\/p>\n
Basically, Sangiran's "life" depends on scientific research.
\nThe researcher's job is to collect the objects (bones, stones,
\netc) together with all the environmental data, which describes
\nthe daily life of our Pithecanthropus -- like ancestors.<\/p>\n
In return, the researchers have to comply with various duties.
\nFirst, all the research teams involved on the site have to meet
\neach other regularly in order to share the work by means of a
\nconsistent research planning from which the development of the
\nsite can benefit.<\/p>\n
Such a global plan is controlled by the government in
\naccordance with the scientific institutions. Second, they have
\nthe duty to help conserve the data they excavate (including the
\ncollections of fossils and artifacts) and make them accessible to
\nother scientists.<\/p>\n
Third, they have to bring to the public the synthesis of their
\nwork, to communicate their results to everybody by helping the
\nexhibitions programmed by the curators of the museum. Last, they
\nhave to contribute by their authorized advice to the protection
\nand conservation of the site.<\/p>\n
Curators of the museum and of the site have also an invaluable
\nresponsibility in the protection and the development of the site,
\nthe collections and the data. They are in permanent contact with
\npeople living on or visiting the site to whom they have to
\nexplain the richness of the Sangiran patrimony and how to comply
\nwith protection regulations and limitations.<\/p>\n
The government, specifically the regency, is in charge of the
\nsite, which is an outstanding responsibility. They have to
\nfulfill together the needs of the national, provincial and
\nregency policy for cultural, economic and social development.
\nThey have to accommodate the needs of locals -- roads, buildings,
\nfields, etc -- with those of the tight protection of the site.<\/p>\n
It is not always easy but definitely necessary to make so many
\nactors work together in harmony. Any decision concerning the site
\ncannot be made prior to consulting all the parties, a process
\nwhich is time-consuming but important.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Indonesia possesses by itself many specialists in
\nthe concerned fields. A smaller permanent board involving the
\ngovernment (at the three levels) and the Center for
\nArchaeological Research and conservation institutions can ensure
\na fast but secure decision-making process, taking into account
\nand evaluating any individual or collective opinions.<\/p>\n
This board has to meet quite often in order not to hamper the
\ndevelopment of the site, to comply with economic limitations. As
\nSangiran is already listed as a World Heritage site, important
\ndecisions and overall evaluation of the development of the site
\ncan also be discussed during, for instance, annual meetings of
\nthe larger advisory board already formed under UNESCO's umbrella.<\/p>\n
This board is chaired by national officers, but implies also
\nadvisers from international research teams who worked for long on
\nthe site, as well as specialists from various countries who face
\nsimilar questions of their own (scientists from the Zhoukoudian
\nPeking Man site are members of this board).<\/p>\n
Should those boards meet at the required intervals, debates --
\nand related smaller misunderstandings -- like that about the
\nbuilding of the vista tower in Pagerejo would really have little
\nchance to exist.<\/p>\n
The current situation offers an unique opportunity for the
\nsake of Sangiran conservation, scientific, touristic and economic
\ndevelopment. It is the common responsibility of all the actors
\nnot to lose such an opportunity.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sangiran-preserving-history-and-heritage-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}