Archaeological findings in the Dieng of Century IX

Landscape of Anggrung Gondok, Dieng. beautiful and peaceful.

Team of researchers from the Department of Archaeology Faculty of Humanities University of Gadjah Mada find dozens of broken glass, ceramics, and gacuk in the area of Candi Dieng, Central Java. This finding is important to uncover the ancient Mataram trade relations.

Chairman of the Department of Archaeology University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta Inayah Adrisiyanti said, shards of pottery found in China is estimated to come from the Tang Dynasty around the 9th century. The distinctive blue colored glass and green is estimated from the Persians.

"This finding is very important, because it shows there is life beyond the ceremonial rite in Dieng area," said Inayah, Saturday (12/06/2010).

Dieng temple area, which lies at an altitude of about 2,000 meters above sea level and located in Wonosobo regency and Banjarnegara, known as the religious area. As the name implies, Dieng ("on" means mountain or place, and "hyang" means god), in the region there are several Hindu temples. The name of the temple in accordance with Purwa puppet in the Mahabharata, like temple Arjuna, Bima Temple, Candi Semar, and Temple Gatotkaca.

Three points

Mahirta, professor and chairman of research teams in the area enshrinement Dieng, say, the findings of excavations carried out at three points, namely around the staircase entrance Dieng Kailasa Museum, the old wells, and building Darmasala west.

After digging the soil with a depth of 50-175 cm, at three locations were found shards of pottery, gacuk (artificial currency used in religious ceremonies), and broken glass.

Seeing their characteristics, continued Mahirta, shards of pottery and gacuk probably derived from the Tang Dynasty which ruled in northern China in the 9th century. "Ceramics are found on ships that sank in the waters around the Pacific Islands," said Mahirta. As for the broken glass, the color and characteristics, probably derived from Persia.

The discovery, further Mahirta, very important because it strengthens the case of Old Mataram internationally have formed a trade involving the Middle East region and China. Traded goods, even, into the hinterland, such as the Dieng plateau.

Archaeologists from the National University of Singapore, John Norman Miksic, say, during these relics of the inscription in Indonesia, more talk about religion and government. Trading activity is very rarely mentioned that the data on it was minimal. In fact, international trade activity may have a major influence for the development of the kingdom.

"These findings provide the most complete data about the extent of current trading range," said Miksic said.