Waskita Karya Workers Find Tombstones With Arabic Scripts In Palembang, Archaeologists: Possible Remains Of Gede Ing Suro In The 16th Century

Video screenshot of the discovery of ancient tombstones allegedly from the time of the Palembang Sultanate (ANTARA/HO.)

PALEMBANG - Archaeologists who are members of the Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB) of Palembang, South Sumatra, will further investigate the discovery of tombstones suspected of being ancient tombs from the Palembang Sultanate era.

The tombstone was found by accident by PT Waskita Karya workers while carrying out excavations for the IPAL installation excavation project in the 16 Ilir area, Palembang, last Wednesday. The discovery of this tombstone has also gone viral and has been circulating on various social media lines.

Head of TACB Palembang Retno Purwati said, based on the results of a meeting facilitated by the Culture Service of Palembang City and attended by PT Waskita Karya, the team of archaeologists had obtained permission to examine the tombstone.

"We will go to the place of discovery tonight at 20.00 WIB to witness firsthand the process of reappointment of the tombstone, so that it can be examined further. Because the tombstone has been reburied by Waskita workers for security measures and so that it is not misused by irresponsible parties," said Retno, who is also an archaeologist from the South Sumatra Archaeological Office in Palembang, Antara, Monday, December 17.

According to him, his party had not seen the headstone directly, so they could not confirm whether the tombstone was a relic of the Palembang Sultanate era.

However, he continued, based on the shape and writing on the tombstone that he saw in the video circulating and matched it with the location of the discovery, it was possible that it was indeed an important and historic object.

"The possibility could be true because the location of the discovery (at 16 Ilir) is near the former Beringin Janggut Palace," he added.

He estimates that the tombstone is a relic of Gede Ing Suro's 16th and 19th centuries. Because tombstones of the Demak type and written in Jawi script are commonly found in Palembang, such as in Tengkureb Crater, Kebon Gede and Sabokingking.

"Regardless of whether the tombstone has been there before or in the process due to a new transformation or transfer. We'll see tonight, hopefully the weather will support it," he said.