UI Professor: Cultural Heritage Findings In Ujung Kulon National Park, Legacy Of Hindu Saiwa 7 AD

JAKARTA - UI Archaeological Teacher Prof Agus Aris Munandar estimates that the findings of the suspected Cultural Conservation Object (ODCB) in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) Pandeglang, Banten, are relics of the Hindu Saiwa era around the 7th century Masehi.

"From an archaeological point of view, this is a very important discovery and shows that there was an initial influence of Indian culture on Javanese soil and it was found in Ujung Kulon National Park," he said after a discussion of the Infectious Group (DKT) by the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region VIII in Serang, Friday. The findings include two five head statues and stone-shaped pions as well as the findings of lulumpang stones. He explained that Hindu Saiwa's religion in the 8th century developed in central Java and before that the influence of Indian culture was already in Ujung Kulon. Why was it chosen by Ujung Kulon, according to Agus, from the shipping angle, if it came from the west, it would stop to the western part of Javanese soil, namely Panaitan Island and Ujung Kulon. "In the past, the voyage was not through the Malacca Strait, but still through the west coast of Sumatra, finally the ship's voyages stopped in the western Javanese land, on Panaitan Island and Ujung Kulon," he explained.

Agus menuturkan bahwa tempat tersebut ditinggalkan karena kurang ada pendukung, seperti penduduknya kurang sehingga terjadi pergeseran dari wilayah Ujung Kulon ke arah timur."Dari wilayah Ujung Kulon bergeser ke timur, lalu singgah di Pangandaran di Batu Kalde," tuturnya.Dari situ, kemudian bergeser lagi ke timur sampai di tanah Jawa bagian tengah, agama Hindu lebih berkembang di sana. Jadi kebudayaan itu bisa berkembang jika ada pendukungnya. Jika penduduknya tidak ada maka tidak bisa," katanya.Langkah lanjutan dari diskusi itu yaitu disepakati bahwa temuan ODCB di TNUK perlu diselamatkan dengan dipindahkan dari TNUK ke Museum Pemerintah Daerah setempat.Sementara itu, Kepala BPK Wilayah VIII, Lita Rahmiati menambahkan perlu dilakukan kajian lanjutan lebih menguak tentang tinggalan tersebut.

"This advanced rescue and research program requires more intensive coordination with TNUK, BRIN, academics and other relevant agencies," he said. Head of TNUK Hall, Ardi Andono, appreciated BPK Region VIII for its findings in TNUK so that ODCB objects were revealed which were important to reveal history in Ujung Kulon. "We are very grateful to BPK Region VIII for its initiation so that objects are suspected of being cultural heritage in TNUK, this is important to reveal the history of TNUK itself what it used to be, and why until now its culture is very thick, this is a new veil open," he said., said Ardi, TNUK opened itself up to collaborate and cooperate with BPK Region VIII. The discussion was attended by representatives from the UI Archaeological Department, Ujung Kulon National Park Office (TNUK), Untirta History Study Study Program, UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten, BRIN, and the Tourism and Culture Office of Pandeglang Regency.

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