Bojongmenje Temple

The site of Bojongmenje is located at Kampung Bojongmenje (Bojongmenje village), Cangkuang region, sub-district of Rancaekek, Bandung district. In this present time, the temple, assumed being built in this site, is in the process of excavation and renovation; hence, there have been no figure concerning the style and function of the building at its early time.

Bojongmenje temple is constructed using the andesite rocks, on the squared ground plan along six meters for its side. Its ruins can figure out that the style of the temple is very simple and its walls only have one line of relief. The simplicity indicates the cultural quality of the people at that period that was lower than the cultural quality at the period of the construction of Prambanan and Borobudur temples. To this date, there is no inscription defining the relationship between the temple and any kingdom existed at that period in the west of Java. However, based on the archeological discoveries at the site of Bojongmenje, it is estimated that the temple was built at seventh and eighth centuries. To this estimation, the age of Bojongmenje is then older than the ages of the temples in the Central and East Java or averagely at the same date of Dieng temple in the Central of Java.

This archeological site was discovered on 18 August 2002. This discovery was accidentally taken place by the local people who excavate soils near by the present location of the temple to fill the path at their village. The area belonged to local resident named as Anen. Observing the cluster of ants around, people decided to find out what behind by digging out the spot. Half of a meter down, they found the hollow space surrounded by the ruins of rocks orderly arranged. The digging was continued until the whole forms of the rocks were clearly appeared. At the depth of eighty centimeters, the excavation was stopped and the discovery was reported to the government.

Until the end of 2005 the excavation has not been completed yet. The site is situated in the residential area of the villagers and now surrounded by hedges. The space of the site is likely a pool filled by the water. Ruins in the center of the area are also surrounded by thorn wires to avoid any further damage by irresponsible people.

There has been built a building near by the site for doing the registration, research/excavation and storing the archeological items discovered at the site. There are various styles of the ruins inside the building heaped at its corner. Some heaps of the rocks seemed lying in the line along the side of the yard. There are some bricks among the heaps. Some of them are in the process of estimation concerning their styles and positions.

According to the security of the site, there are some reasons contributing to the fast damage of the Temple. It is said that the surrounding area was once used by the Japanese army for war simulation practice with heavy equipments like tanks, armored vehicles, etc. The area was also exploited as public cemetery.