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.