Stone quarriers dig their business in heat and dust
Stone quarriers dig their business in heat and dust
By Tarko Sudiarno and Ronaldo al Hakim
MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): The clang of iron banging against
stone sets a monotonous, discordant beat. A little further off,
men use hoes and crowbars to excavate a plot of land. Cavernous
plastic tents shroud the pit to protect workers from heat and
dust.
This is life for many villagers in Keningan near Magelang,
Central Java. They dig for andesite, or batu beras (rice stones)
in local parlance, the basic material for making statues, art
objects and many household utensils. Users claim the pitch black
stone is not as hard as granite. Although it is easy to shape, it
is resistant to breakage because it is not porous.
Diggers start shaping stone according to order as soon as they
find it. Simple tools, such as chisels and pointed crowbars, are
used. Shaped andesite is much in demand as the right size for
statues and large decorative objects.
Clients wishing to have andesite made to order must wait at
least one month for the stones to be dug. Dealers and artists
wish they could have even bigger stones, perhaps as big as an
adult elephant, for shaping statues.
"It is difficult to find these huge stones," said Mrs. Wito
Wiyono, 55, a local stone quarry entrepreneur.
The stone is shaped in the pit and then hauled to the top.
This is not an easy task. On one side of the pit, a passage is
made close to the stone at a 45 degree angle. The stone is pried
with a hydraulic jack. It is then bound with wires and chains
connected to a crane.
Ropes are fastened to several tree trunks around the quarry.
Some logs are placed in the way as a pad for the stone and to
lift it upward. The crane lifts the stone, which is then placed
in a neat row on the edge along with other pieces of andesite.
"Formerly, when there was no pulley and no crane, we needed
two days to lift one stone, but now we can do it within six
hours," said quarrier Marto.
The use of cranes also ended accidents in the excavation
process.
Wiyono said she began in 1974 on her own land. Later, she
rented land from her neighbors. Two years ago, this mother of
four rented half a hectare for Rp 6 million/year. She made a
profit of Rp 4 million, an amount difficult to obtain these days.
Last month, she rented a square kilometer of land for Rp 1.5
million. She attributed the decline in profits to the increase in
the number of quarriers. Land leases were higher, and stones were
also in short supply.
"Ten years ago, just digging half a meter already yielded
andesite. Now we have to go 10 meters and beyond," said Wiyono.
Wiyono employs eight workers at a daily pay of Rp 7,000, plus
catered lunch. She spent an additional Rp 300,000 for the
construction of a small road to the main road because of the
distant location of her quarry.
Last month, her crew excavated three big stones, worth Rp
300,000 to 500,000 each. The remainder of shaped stone was cut
into small pieces and sold for mortars, essential for making
chili sauce, and other kitchen utensils, priced at Rp 10,000
each.
"My profits are small, but I seldom suffer losses," Wiyono
said.
Local farmers also benefit from the quarrying. Keningan
villagers lease their land for between Rp 500,000 and Rp 2
million a year -- check. The lease value drops concomitant with
the land's distance from the main road.
Nobody is ever sure of the andesite deposits in the land. But
quarriers like Marto claimed there is little risk involved.
"There is always andesite. When we are lucky we quickly find
big stones. At worst we get stones measuring one meter square,"
he said.
If digging reaches 20 meters or the quarry is no longer
viable, the contract is considered finished. The quarrier is
responsible for restoring the original condition of the land.
"The land will become more fertile if planted with sweet
potatoes and tubers," said Sarju, a Keningan farmer who leased
his land.
The land becomes more fertile because it has been worked and
cleared of stones and debris.
Many farmers also work as quarriers. Sugiyono said he worked
in a quarry while waiting for the next harvest.
"I earn between Rp 5,000 and 7,000 a day," he said.
The quarriers have no difficulty in finding buyers. Craftsmen
from Muntilan, Temanggung and Sidoharjo, all in Central Java,
always use andesite from Keningan village as basic material for
their statues. With transportation costs up to Rp 150,000, the
stones are delivered to the buyer's place.
They are then made into Gupala, Ganesha, Buddha and other
statues to comply with orders. A Gupala statue requires two
months' work by four sculptors. Each sells for Rp 8 to 10
million. A Ganesha statue can sell for Rp 15 million.
Other andesite stones can be chiseled into gates, reliefs and
lamp stands, work taking weeks and sometimes months, depending on
the complexity of the design and the size of the material.
Smaller stones measuring half a meter can be made into statues or
used as gravestones.
Kitchen utensils and lamps stands are most in demand.
Craftsmen use andesite of even smaller size. Prices range from Rp
10,000 to Rp 150,000.
Statue vendors and artists display their goods in front of
their homes or shop at the town of Muntilan located on the
Magelang-Yogyakarta main road.
"Sales are highest during the holidays," said Mrs. Wiji, who
owns a kiosk in Muntilan.
Well-known Balinese artist I Nyoman Alim Mustapha settled in
the area in 1967. He is the owner of the Sanggar Linang Sayang
that produces statues, reliefs and ornaments using Keningan
andesite.
Nyoman employs 50 artists who make installation works in
hotels and resorts throughout Indonesia.
His output includes a huge statue at the Sheraton Hotel in
Senggigi, Lombok, an elephant cave at the Bali Hyatt, and rooms
and a swimming pool at the Melia Purosani, Yogyakarta.
Keningan andesite also makes its way to distant shores, as
Nyoman's pieces are found in Hong Kong, Thailand and Britain.