East Java BPCB Observations Findings Of Statues In Kediri Regency

Officers visited Dorok Temple in Manggis Village, Puncu District, Kediri Regency, East Java. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The East Java Cultural Heritage Conservation Center (BPCB) observed the discovery of statues in Manggis Village, Kediri Regency, which until Monday were still kept at the home of local village officials.

"If traced from the characteristics of the statue's shape, position, and relief, these findings are similar to the statues during the Majapahit Kingdom," said Head of the BPCB East Java BPCB Subunit Nonuk Kristiana as reported by Antara, Tuesday, January 19.

The East Java BPCB team directly monitored the findings of the statue in Dorok Hamlet, Manggis Village, Puncu District, Kediri Regency.

Findings of the statues include the Ganesha statue, the Shiva statue, the Agastya statue, the Mahakala statue, and the Durga Mahisasura Mardhini statue. The location of his findings was in Candi Dorok, Manggis Village, Puncu District, Kediri Regency.

However, the East Java BPCB has no plans to excavate the location of the findings.

BPCB considers the place to be a rebuttal which is a building where offerings are made. This can also be seen from the receipt statue in that place.

He suspected that the statue was not a statue of a god, but an image of a rishi likened to a certain god. From the physical appearance of the statue, it can also be seen that this work was allegedly used by people of the Majapahit era for worship at home.

East Java BPCB also fully gave up the maintenance of the statue's findings. The statue can be stored in a museum owned by the Kediri Regency Government to prevent theft.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Kediri Regency Tourism and Culture Office Adi Suwignyo said that the local district government immediately followed up on the recommendations from the East Java BPCB Team.

"To save historical assets, of course we coordinate with village officials," said Adi.

Previously, the statue was found by residents of Puncu District when digging soil for plants. The findings were around November 2020.

The statue was also secured at the device house in Manggis Village. The findings were also reported to the Kediri Regency Tourism and Culture Office, then surveyed directly by the East Java BPCB.

In Kediri Regency, there are also many finding points for historical sites, including many statues that were previously buried, then later found by residents. Most of these statues are kept in the Kediri Regency Museum.