Ancient Site in Sukabumi Neglected, Littered with Rubbish and Used Underwear

The Gunung Tangkil area in the Sukawayana Nature Reserve, Cikakak District, Sukabumi Regency, holds potential megalithic remains. However, women’s underwear was found at the site, allegedly due to deviant ritual activity.

Firman Hidayat, caretaker of the Padjajaran Anyar Association, together with a community of Sundanese cultural observers, surveyed the location last week. Instead of finding a well-maintained area, the group discovered a pile of women’s underwear tucked among the ancient rock formations.

“During last week’s survey, when we reached the menhir stones and the stepped structures, the condition there was visibly unkempt and seemed neglected. What we deeply regret is that beneath the rock arrangement there is a small cavity, and inside it many items of women’s underwear were found, ranging from knickers to bras,” Firman said, as reported by detikJabar on Monday (24/8/2026).

Firman suspects that the presence of the underwear is closely linked to inappropriate spiritual or mystical activity at the historic site.

“We are very concerned that this historic location is being used as a site for deviant rituals. Besides the rubbish of underwear in the rock crevices, we also found traces of illegal digging, possibly from mining activity,” he said.

Responding to the situation, the Sukabumi Regency Culture, Youth and Sports Agency (Disbudpora) stressed that the Gunung Tangkil area has long held the status of a Suspected Cultural Heritage Object (ODCB).

“Under the Cultural Heritage Law, the treatment of an ODCB is the same as that of a designated cultural heritage site. Its protection, safeguarding and preservation must still be carried out strictly. We will continue to coordinate with the West Java Cultural Heritage Preservation Office and our leadership so that handling and designation measures can be decided promptly,” said Gerry Mulyawan Hidayat, a Cultural Affairs Functional Officer at the Sukabumi Regency Disbudpora.