BRIN and UBH Padang Research Archaeological Sites on West Sumatra Coast

Padang (ANTARA) - Bung Hatta University (UBH) Padang, in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is conducting a ten-day research project on archaeological site development along the West Sumatra coast from 8 to 17 June. The research involves BRIN’s Centre for Environmental Maritime Archaeology and Sustainable Culture working with the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at UBH. “This research supports the development and mitigation of archaeological sites located along the coast of Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra,” said local research partner Dr Harfiandri Damanhuri in Padang on Sunday. He explained that the collaborative research aims to identify the condition of maritime heritage remains following hydrometeorological disasters and several minor earthquakes. The project is expected to produce publications as well as recommendations for mitigation and protection models for these unique and interesting sites, which are over 50 years old. According to Damanhuri, the results will have a broad impact, particularly by providing a scientific basis for policy-making by both central and regional governments. “It can also serve as a foundation for implementing site protection and mitigation by parties at the nagari (village) level around the sites,” he said. The research team is led by Dr Ira Dillenia (Maritime Archaeology) from BRIN, with members including Gendro Keling MA (Maritime Archaeologist) and Dr Ing Semeidi Husrin (Geological Marine Disaster). Local research partners include Dr Harfiandri Damanhuri (Marine Conservation and Ecotourism) from the Coastal and Marine Resources Study Programme (SP2K) at UBH’s Postgraduate Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science. The research is assisted by field team member Samsuardi (Dive Master), who is collecting data at the Fort archaeological site on Cingkuak Island and the underwater archaeological site of the MV Boelongan Nederland in the Mandeh Bay area of Pesisir Selatan.