Stone quarriers dig their business in heat and dust<\/p>\n
By Tarko Sudiarno and Ronaldo al Hakim<\/p>\n
MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): The clang of iron banging against
\nstone sets a monotonous, discordant beat. A little further off,
\nmen use hoes and crowbars to excavate a plot of land. Cavernous
\nplastic tents shroud the pit to protect workers from heat and
\ndust.<\/p>\n
This is life for many villagers in Keningan near Magelang,
\nCentral Java. They dig for andesite, or batu beras (rice stones)
\nin local parlance, the basic material for making statues, art
\nobjects and many household utensils. Users claim the pitch black
\nstone is not as hard as granite. Although it is easy to shape, it
\nis resistant to breakage because it is not porous.<\/p>\n
Diggers start shaping stone according to order as soon as they
\nfind it. Simple tools, such as chisels and pointed crowbars, are
\nused. Shaped andesite is much in demand as the right size for
\nstatues and large decorative objects.<\/p>\n
Clients wishing to have andesite made to order must wait at
\nleast one month for the stones to be dug. Dealers and artists
\nwish they could have even bigger stones, perhaps as big as an
\nadult elephant, for shaping statues.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult to find these huge stones,\" said Mrs. Wito
\nWiyono, 55, a local stone quarry entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
The stone is shaped in the pit and then hauled to the top.
\nThis is not an easy task. On one side of the pit, a passage is
\nmade close to the stone at a 45 degree angle. The stone is pried
\nwith a hydraulic jack. It is then bound with wires and chains
\nconnected to a crane.<\/p>\n
Ropes are fastened to several tree trunks around the quarry.
\nSome logs are placed in the way as a pad for the stone and to
\nlift it upward. The crane lifts the stone, which is then placed
\nin a neat row on the edge along with other pieces of andesite.<\/p>\n
\"Formerly, when there was no pulley and no crane, we needed
\ntwo days to lift one stone, but now we can do it within six
\nhours,\" said quarrier Marto.<\/p>\n
The use of cranes also ended accidents in the excavation
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
Wiyono said she began in 1974 on her own land. Later, she
\nrented land from her neighbors. Two years ago, this mother of
\nfour rented half a hectare for Rp 6 million\/year. She made a
\nprofit of Rp 4 million, an amount difficult to obtain these days.<\/p>\n
Last month, she rented a square kilometer of land for Rp 1.5
\nmillion. She attributed the decline in profits to the increase in
\nthe number of quarriers. Land leases were higher, and stones were
\nalso in short supply.<\/p>\n
\"Ten years ago, just digging half a meter already yielded
\nandesite. Now we have to go 10 meters and beyond,\" said Wiyono.<\/p>\n
Wiyono employs eight workers at a daily pay of Rp 7,000, plus
\ncatered lunch. She spent an additional Rp 300,000 for the
\nconstruction of a small road to the main road because of the
\ndistant location of her quarry.<\/p>\n
Last month, her crew excavated three big stones, worth Rp
\n300,000 to 500,000 each. The remainder of shaped stone was cut
\ninto small pieces and sold for mortars, essential for making
\nchili sauce, and other kitchen utensils, priced at Rp 10,000
\neach.<\/p>\n
\"My profits are small, but I seldom suffer losses,\" Wiyono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Local farmers also benefit from the quarrying. Keningan
\nvillagers lease their land for between Rp 500,000 and Rp 2
\nmillion a year -- check. The lease value drops concomitant with
\nthe land's distance from the main road.<\/p>\n
Nobody is ever sure of the andesite deposits in the land. But
\nquarriers like Marto claimed there is little risk involved.<\/p>\n
\"There is always andesite. When we are lucky we quickly find
\nbig stones. At worst we get stones measuring one meter square,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
If digging reaches 20 meters or the quarry is no longer
\nviable, the contract is considered finished. The quarrier is
\nresponsible for restoring the original condition of the land.<\/p>\n
\"The land will become more fertile if planted with sweet
\npotatoes and tubers,\" said Sarju, a Keningan farmer who leased
\nhis land.<\/p>\n
The land becomes more fertile because it has been worked and
\ncleared of stones and debris.<\/p>\n
Many farmers also work as quarriers. Sugiyono said he worked
\nin a quarry while waiting for the next harvest.<\/p>\n
\"I earn between Rp 5,000 and 7,000 a day,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The quarriers have no difficulty in finding buyers. Craftsmen
\nfrom Muntilan, Temanggung and Sidoharjo, all in Central Java,
\nalways use andesite from Keningan village as basic material for
\ntheir statues. With transportation costs up to Rp 150,000, the
\nstones are delivered to the buyer's place.<\/p>\n
They are then made into Gupala, Ganesha, Buddha and other
\nstatues to comply with orders. A Gupala statue requires two
\nmonths' work by four sculptors. Each sells for Rp 8 to 10
\nmillion. A Ganesha statue can sell for Rp 15 million.<\/p>\n
Other andesite stones can be chiseled into gates, reliefs and
\nlamp stands, work taking weeks and sometimes months, depending on
\nthe complexity of the design and the size of the material.
\nSmaller stones measuring half a meter can be made into statues or
\nused as gravestones.<\/p>\n
Kitchen utensils and lamps stands are most in demand.
\nCraftsmen use andesite of even smaller size. Prices range from Rp
\n10,000 to Rp 150,000.<\/p>\n
Statue vendors and artists display their goods in front of
\ntheir homes or shop at the town of Muntilan located on the
\nMagelang-Yogyakarta main road.<\/p>\n
\"Sales are highest during the holidays,\" said Mrs. Wiji, who
\nowns a kiosk in Muntilan.<\/p>\n
Well-known Balinese artist I Nyoman Alim Mustapha settled in
\nthe area in 1967. He is the owner of the Sanggar Linang Sayang
\nthat produces statues, reliefs and ornaments using Keningan
\nandesite.<\/p>\n
Nyoman employs 50 artists who make installation works in
\nhotels and resorts throughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
His output includes a huge statue at the Sheraton Hotel in
\nSenggigi, Lombok, an elephant cave at the Bali Hyatt, and rooms
\nand a swimming pool at the Melia Purosani, Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Keningan andesite also makes its way to distant shores, as
\nNyoman's pieces are found in Hong Kong, Thailand and Britain.<\/p>",
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