Residents selling artifacts

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)