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The Star
a day ago
- General
- The Star
Malang resident discovers structures believed to be ancient temple
JAKARTA: A resident of Landungsari Village in Malang Regency, East Java, has discovered a brick structure believed to be the remains of an ancient temple, possibly dating back to the 10th-century Medang Kingdom. The structure was discovered last week by Rudi Harianto, the head of Bendungan Hamlet, while preparing a tent for a local event on farmland. 'When I tried to drive a bamboo pole into the ground, it struck something hard. As I dug to remove it, I uncovered a brick,' Rudi said in a recent interview, as quoted by Tribunnews The following day, the 40-year-old reported the discovery to the Indonesian Archaeology and Cultural Conservation Society (PPBI), which later sent a team to conduct further excavation at the site. The PPBI members and local residents excavated a hole approximately one meter deep and two m wide around the brick Rudi discovered. The dig revealed more bricks arranged in what appears to be a tiered stone base. Some of the bricks are believed to contain andesite, a volcanic rock commonly used in the construction of ancient temples in Java. One brick was also found to have markings that resemble ancient Javanese script. Rudi said he contacted PPBI immediately after finding the brick because several ancient artifacts, such as clayware and statues, had previously been found in the village. He said that in 2023, he discovered two bricks believed to be part of an ancient temple structure. The following year, he also uncovered what appeared to be the foundation of a similar temple structure. He reported the findings to local authorities in Malang, and several archaeologists were sent to inspect the site. However, no further excavation has been carried out to date. PPBI member Aulia Akbar said the structure discovered by Rudi last week is suspected to be part of a temple dating back to the Medang Kingdom, specifically during the reign of Mpu Sindok, around 929 to 949 CE. 'However, we don't have the authority to conduct a full excavation. Our role is limited to cleaning, safeguarding and preserving ancient relics,' he said. The Medang Kingdom, also known as Hindu Mataram, was a powerful ancient kingdom founded by Raka I Mataram Sang Ratu Sanjaya on Oct 6, 732 CE. It lasted until the 11th century and left behind a plethora of archaeological remains across Central and East Java, including more than 150 temples. Among its most renowned legacies is the Borobudur Temple in Magelang Regency, Central Java. Recognised by Unesco as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, Borobudur was designated a World Heritage Site in 1991. Mpu Sindok is known for relocating the seat of the Medang Kingdom from Mataram, in present-day Yogyakarta, to an ancient city named Tamwlang, in East Java. However, archaeologists remain divided on the exact location of Tamwlang, with some estimating it was in modern-day Jombang Regency, while others believing it was in present-day Malang Regency. Some archaeologists argue that the move was motivated by East Java's more favouable geographical conditions, including the presence of the Brantas River, which offered better economic prospects for the kingdom. Others theorise that a Mount Merapi eruption and internal power struggles prompted the relocation of the royal capital. Head of the Malang Tourism Agency, Purwoto, said that a thorough investigation by cultural heritage experts from the East Java Cultural Heritage Preservation Center (BPK) is needed to verify whether the structure found in Landungsari Village is indeed an ancient temple. 'We cannot conduct excavations or make determinations about the site ourselves. That responsibility lies solely with the BPK, and we are currently awaiting their assessment and further instructions,' he said. Purwoto expressed hope that the BPK would promptly investigate the site, noting that the Malang Tourism Agency has reported several suspected archaeological findings in Landungsari Village since 2023. However, the BPK has yet to conduct a full excavation or thorough research on these discoveries. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Demand for Idul Adha sacrificial livestock drops amid economic slowdown in Indonesia
JAKARTA: Livestock farmers and traders across various regions have complained about a sharp drop in demand for sacrificial livestock during the Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) holiday, amid the country's ongoing economic slowdown. Uday, a 41-year-old sheep trader in Bandung, West Java, said he had sold only one sheep on Thursday (June 5) morning, the day before Idul Adha, which falls on Friday (June 6) this year. [The Indonesian government had announced that the Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) holiday for the country this year fell on June 6] 'The day before the holiday is usually my busiest and most profitable with buyers typically arriving nonstop even before sunrise. Last year, I sold up to 25 sheep on this day. But today, only one buyer has come to my stall all morning,' he said, as quoted by Kompas. Uday, who prices his sheep between Rp 3 million (US$184) and Rp 5 million each, said he had sold only 10 animals over the past four days, marking a steep drop from last year, when he sold up to 50 sacrificial animals in the lead-up to the holiday. Subari, a cow seller in Batang Regency, Central Java, shared a similar struggle, saying he had managed to sell only 16 cows two days before Idul Adha. 'Last year, I sold 40 cows. But this year, people don't seem very interested in buying sacrificial animals, likely due to the tough economic conditions,' he said on Wednesday. Nizar, a cow farmer from Anambas Islands Regency in the Riau Islands, said his income had dropped sharply compared with last year. 'There are very few buyers this time, a stark contrast to last year. So far, I've only managed to sell four cows. In previous years, I would have already sold 20 to 30 by now,' he said on Wednesday (June 4), as reported by Tribunnews. Galang Saputra, a cow seller at Jetis Animal Market in Ponorogo Regency, East Java, reported that cow prices have fallen by Rp 1 million to Rp 1.5 million ahead of the Idul Adha holiday. 'Instead of rising, prices have dropped due to weak demand,' he said on Wednesday. Sellers at the market have also completely eliminated transportation fees for moving livestock after purchase in hopes of attracting more customers, but with little success. The Institute for Demographic and Affluence Studies (Ideas) estimates that 1.92 million people purchased sacrificial livestock this year, marking a decline of 233,000 buyers or around 12 percent compared with last year. This figure is even lower than during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the institute reported 2.11 million buyers in 2021 and 2.17 million buyers in 2022. Ideas managing director Haryo Mojopahit attributed the decline to a shrinking middle and upper-income class, the primary buyers of sacrificial animals. 'The large-scale purchase of sacrificial animals during Idul Adha is vital to the growth of the country's livestock sector. This sector provides an important source of income for rural communities and acts as a key driver of the local economy,' he said on Monday, as reported by Antara. Haryo added that since the meat from sacrificial animals is mostly distributed to low-income families, Idul Adha also helps narrow the significant gap in red meat consumption between high- and low-income households. A 2024 Ideas survey revealed that individuals in high-income families consume an average of 4.17 kilogrammes of red meat per year, while those in low-income families consume only 0.009 kg annually. Economists said consumer spending power in Indonesia has steadily weakened over the past two years. Wage increases in vital sectors, such as manufacturing, trade and agriculture, have lagged behind rising prices. The situation has been exacerbated by widespread layoffs, including in the primary sector. The country's economy recorded its slowest quarterly growth since Q3 2021, expanding by 4.87 percent. Meanwhile, household spending, which constitutes over half of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), rose by just 4.89 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, marking the slowest growth in five quarters, despite increased consumer activity during the Ramadan and Idul Fitri celebrations in March. Overall GDP growth from January to March slowed to 4.87 percent year-on-year, down from 5.02 percent in the previous quarter. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
