Archeological sites in danger in E. Java, Lampung

Archeological sites in danger in E. Java, Lampung

ID Nugroho and Oyos Saroso H.N., Surabaya/Bandarlampung

The condition of an ancient statue found on a farm in Mojopuro
subdistrict, Gresik regency, about 30 kilometers north of
Surabaya, was a sad sight.

Around the object, likely crafted during the Majapahit Kingdom
hundreds of years ago, grew weeds and wild grass, adding to the
impression that no one cared about the important historical
relic. It was a Dwarapala, or guardian statue, mostly found in
front of temple buildings.

"There are still many statues of this type that can be found
in Gresik," said a cultural observer from the town, Muhammad
Toha.

Many of the statues can also be found in areas of the former
Singasari and Majapahit kingdoms in Mojokerto and Malang, East
Java. In Malang, for example, the Singasari temple stands proudly
in the Candirenggo subdistrict, believed to be built around 1300
B.C. There are also two Dwarapala statues that are 3.7 meters
tall and 3.8 meters wide, standing guard in front of the temple.

In contrast to the Singasari temple, somewhat taken care of by
the government, the fate of the Dwarapala statue in Gresik is
more unfavorable. Since it was first discovered last year, its
fate was no different than an ordinary mound of stone, sprawled
on the ground and covered with dirt and dry leaves. Another
statue in the area believed to be in the shape of a Buddha statue
was intentionally destroyed by local residents.

"They were afraid it would invoke the practice of syirik, or
the sinful act of believing other than the only God Almighty,"
said Toha.

He said that the demolition of the historical relic by Gresik
residents was because of the strong Islamic teachings practiced
in the area. To pray to or to consider something sacred other
than Allah is against Islamic teachings. "The residents don't
want that in their area, so they destroyed the statue," he said.

He, however, said that it was a wrong perception, because the
statues were not meant to be worshiped. "They couldn't
differentiate between a worship statue with other kinds like the
Dwarapala, which is not worshiped, as they are only symbols," he
explained.

Head of the East Java Archeology Office Dr. Winston Douglas
Mambo said, one of the contributing factors of archeological
destruction in East Java was the people's ignorance. "People
living around ancient sites only regard them as old buildings,
not knowing how to deal with them," he told The Jakarta Post.

Worse still, people have been reluctant to report a finding.
"In other words, destruction of historical findings usually
starts off with poor handling the first time they are
discovered," he said.

Winston urged the public to immediately contact the local
administration if they came across an archeological find.

But, Toha acknowledged that the government should be proactive
in preserving the historical artifacts. The government is
regarded in many cases, as being too slow in protecting
archeological sites. It is not surprising if the sites are
eventually demolished or damaged and unable to be restored.

Had the government been serious about the matter, they might
have evacuated the site of the ancient relic, cordoned off the
area and then excavated the site thoroughly.

A similar sorry situation also is evidence in Lampung
province. Similar to those in East Java province, dozens of
historical sites and remnants in Lampung province are also in a
poor state. Besides not being conserved, many of them have also
been looted.

Several relics are now missing from the dozens of forts, with
remnants from the Dutch and the archeological remnants of Raden
Intan II, the national hero from Lampung. Head of the Archeology
and Historical Objects section of the Lampung Cultural and
Education Office, Sir Hamilton, expressed concern that since the
position of cultural ownership has been eliminated in the
regional autonomy era, it is now difficult to detect the missing
historical and cultural remnants.

A descendant of Raden Intan II, M. Nasir, expressed his
concern over the loss of the historical relics. He said there
were 15 forts located in various villages in South Lampung
regency that are now in a run-down state. Four of them have been
turned into residential houses and rice plantations.

Hamilton said that Lampung had a rich cultural and
archeological heritage. The Lampung Education and Tourism Office
has recorded more than 90 cultural preservation objects in the
province, not to mention the recent findings uncovered by heirs
to the Keratuan Balau kingdom in Keramat village, Bandarlampung
City and the Keratuan Sekala Berak era in Kenali, West Lampung.

Head of the Lampung State Museum, Bunyana Bermawi, says that
most of the sites in Lampung are megalithic buildings and
remnants of which are in the form of stone statues.

In order to prevent the historical sites and relics from being
lost entirely, the Lampung State Museum, in collaboration with
the Lampung Province Preservation Office, the Banten provincial
administration and the Jakarta administration, is planning
renovation work on the Keratuan Balau historical site.

The ancient tomb there has been examined by an archeological
team from the Lampung Preservation Office and the Lampung Museum,
they have determined that there is a great historical value. "We
have contacted the heirs to explain to them the historical
value," said Bunyana.