Found, Site Covering Four Times Borobudur Temple

MAGELANG - During this time, we are unsure if the Borobudur temple is the largest temple and historic sites in Indonesia. But wait, soon it will change. A site covering an four times area Borobudur temple is now being investigated by the Central Java Institute for Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BPCB) and researchers from the University of Gajah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta.

Recently, people of Gendungan, Kalibening village, Dukun, Magelang district find a site of ancient Mataram kingdom in the past. Sites that are found are the remains of a building that allegedly water gardens and stables, which is thought to be part of a settlement of one of the nobles of the kingdom.

The site was first discovered by a citizen named Sumarlan Sastra Sudarmo (74) while hoeing in the fields.

"When hoe, my hoe on a rock. After I dug, apparently an ancient mortars," said Sumarlan as reported kabarmagelang.com, recently.

On this discovery, he later told the chief of Kalibening village, Nurbiyanto. Nurbiyanto follow the Sumarlan invention by mobilizing residents and village officials to conduct excavations. When excavation, they found many ancient objects such as rocks.

"We found a mortar and long round pestle, round, yoni, gandik, reliefs and empty sculptures. Then we report to Disparbud Magelang regency," he said.


Site area in Gendungan, Kalibening village, Dukun, Magelang district

Head of Tourism and Culture (Disparbud) District of Magelang, Edy Susanto who receives the report immediately follow up by contacting researchers from the University of Gajah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta.

"We contacted the UGM. We ask them to do research at the ancient site Kalibening. This discovery is interesting, there might just be the discovery of other cultural heritage objects," said Edy.

Head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Hall (BPCB) Central Java Tri Hartono, recognizes the discovery of ancient sites and has reviewed directly on site.

"I've been to the discovery site. Estimates of ancient buildings in the form of a rock garden where water garden or cider in the ancient Mataram kingdom, about age eight to ten," he said.

Tri Hartono continued, this site covers about one hectare or 10 thousand square meters stretching to the south. Estimated to be greater than Borobudur temple area which only 2,500 square meters or 0.25 acres.

"It is estimated at this location used to be a residential one nobleman in ancient Mataram era," he said.

BPCB hopes, further people do not dig, cause could damage the original arrangements before researched.

"We hope citizens not continuing the excavation before investigate, because it can damage its authenticity," he added.