Residents selling artifacts

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A government official yesterday revealed that local residents have been selling recently-found artifacts, such as an 18-carat gold mask, to the highest bidders.

The recently-excavated mask is being offered by a local craftsman in Lendang Berora, Pamenang Tumur, West Lombok, for Rp 672,000 (US$292.1).

The head of the museum and ancient history department at the local education and culture office, Sri Yaningsih, was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday that the public needed to be better educated about the value of these items and the need to preserve them in a museum.

The 8x12-centimeter gold mask was recently found by men plowing their fields. (mds)