The Discovery Of A Cave In Tabanan Will Be Used As An Object Of Suspected Cultural Heritage

The discovery of a cave in Banjar Dalem, Pejaten Village, Kediri District, Tabanan Regency, Bali (PHOTO: Bali Tabanan Culture Service).

TABANAN - The discovery of a cave in Banjar Dalem, Pejaten Village, Kediri District, Tabanan, Bali, will be used as an Object of Suspected Cultural Conservation (ODCB) by the Cultural Conservation Preservation Center (BPCB) and the Bali Archaeological Center (Balar).

"While there are conclusions from Balar and BPCB, the cave in Banjar Dalem, Pejaten Village, is indicated as an object of suspected cultural heritage," said Head of the Tabanan Regency Culture Service, Bali, I Wayan Sugatra, Tuesday, June 7.

The cave was found in the yard of resident I Ketut Nada in March 2022. At that time, Ketut Nada was planning to build a bathroom.

When doing the arrangement, it turns out that there is land that has collapsed and a hole is found with four recesses or recesses.

The cave is estimated to have a path extending to the south along 10 meters. Inside, for the first alcove on the north side with a height of 1.2 meters and a width of 1.4 meters. The second niche in the east with a size of 1.3 meters and 1.2 meters wide.

Then, the third niche is adjacent to the second niche with a height of 1.1 meters and a width of 1.1 meters. While the fourth niche is next to the third niche with a size of 1.2 meters and a width of 1.9 meters

"Yesterday, our community found the cave. Because he was doing landscaping, suddenly the ground collapsed, it turned out to be a cave. For this discovery, the community has coordinated with us and has followed up with BPCB and Balar, and has carried out preliminary research related to the locus. from the cave," he said.

"So according to Law No. 11 of 2010, it's about cultural heritage, the treatment for ODCB is the same as other cultural heritages," he continued.

Photo: Bali Tabanan Culture Service

However, to find out the story or history of the cave, his party is still waiting for research from BPCB and Balar Bali. However, from the existing clues the cave was not created naturally but man-made.

"We will temporarily wait for the results of further research from the relevant agencies so that later we can determine the next steps that can be for the preservation and security of the cave," he said.

"Because, it is indicated that the cave is not a natural cave but a man-made cave. Because there are strokes and lines in the cave, it is indicated that it is not a natural cave but man-made," he explained.

From estimates, the cave is thought to be a relic during the Japanese occupation. However, they are still waiting for the results of the research that has been done.

"Based on the predictions from Balar and BPCB's friends, they don't dare to justify who the relics are. But it is indicated that they are relics from the Japanese era because there are many other sites around which this might need to be explored and explored more intensively," he said.

The discovery of the cave was temporarily declared as ODCB by Balar and BPCB and then National Registration (Regnas) was carried out so that it was designated as a cultural heritage.

"Because it has been declared by BPCB as ODCB, we treat it as a cultural heritage and we will carry out a regnas related to the cave. We have conveyed to the land owner to temporarily guard the cave first, so that there is no damage so that later it will eliminate historical data that is useful for us." further education and research," he said.