Treasure hunting continuous in Silo

JEMBER, East Java: Hundreds of villagers in Silo have been in a hunting frenzy for the past several months searching for artifacts of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Around 300 residents have been working day and night digging out ancient graves, searching for stone beads and other precious stones, Antara reported Thursday.

Silo village chief M. Nasir said that after all the ancient graves in the hamlets of Kebonlangsep and Sumberpakem had been dug out, the frenzy spread to the Karangbaru and Sumbertengah hamlets in Silo.

Nasir added that the villagers are digging with iron rods over which a mantra has been said. "The residents can tell if they have found something valuable by the echo sounds they hear when their iron rods hit something," he said.

The beads, worth millions of rupiah, are being collected by individuals claiming to be "the authorities". So far, no archeologists or researchers have visited the sites and investigate the frenzy. (swe)