JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said ancient caves scattered in various regions of Indonesia were threatened with mining activities around these historic sites.
Therefore, Fadli continued, the Ministry of Culture is currently reviewing and mapping ancient caves whose sustainability is threatened by mining activities, including those in Sulawesi and Kalimantan.
"In Kalimantan, there are these mines that threaten ancient caves in which there are ancient paintings that are tens of thousands of years old. (Tambang, ed.) this is also very dangerous," Fadli said in response to reporters' questions on the sidelines of his activities when he was met in Jakarta, Friday.
In East Kalimantan, precisely in the karst area in East Kutai, Sangkurilang Cave is one of the historical sites highlighted by Fadli because it is considered that his sustainability is threatened by the activities of cement factories around the site.
Sangkurilang Cave has around 58 caves, there are 2,500 ancient paintings that are up to 40,000 years old. Around there is a cement factory. This can be threatening," continued Fadli.
Sangkurilang Cave is part of the Sangkurilang-Mangkalihat karst ecosystem, which covers 1.8 million hectares. In the karsts ecosystem, about 326,000 hectares are geological protected areas.
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In Sangkurilang Cave, which is part of the Sangkurilang-Mangkaka karst ecosystem, the existence of palm paintings on cave walls is proof of ancient civilization in the karst area in East Kutai, East Kalimantan, tens of thousands of years ago.
Analysis of experts later showed the hand painting was 10,000 years to 40,000 years old, which made ancient paintings in Sangkurilang Cave an art in the world's oldest rock rock. In fact, ancient art in Sangkurilang is believed to be older than similar ancient paintings in El Castillo Cave, Spain.
Not only in the form of palms, ancient paintings in the Sangkurilang Cave are also similar to animals such as deer, wild boars, and there are also geometric patterns.
The karsts area consisting of porous limestone (gamping) is often the target for cement mining, as is the case in the North Kendeng Mountains in Rembang and Pati, Central Java.
Not only Sangkurilang Cave, the Ministry of Culture, as stated by Fadli Zon, also studied other historical sites that are threatened with mining activities.
For the initial stage, Fadli said he had expressed his concern verbally to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia.
"Yes, verbally (talked to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil, ed.), but we are currently making studies, locations, places, especially those in Kalimantan," said Culture Minister Fadli Zon.
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