After Finding Two Statues In Tulungagung, Bandung Geologists Explore Some Solid Objects Around The Location

The discovery of two statues in Podorejo Village, Tulungagung. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The research team from the Bandung Geology Agency has succeeded in identifying the distribution of solid objects in the soil around the location of the findings of the two statues of dwarapala and jaladwara, Podorejo Village, Tulungagung, East Java.

"Our first finding indeed identifying higher anomalies, suspected comes from solid objects around the location that we surveyed using gravitomagnetic devices. But we can't conclude what (objects) it is," said Head of the Geology Team from the Bandung Geological Agency, Hidayat, as quoted by Antara, Sunday, March 20.

There are two methods carried out to examine the possibility of cultural heritage objects around the location of the finding of the dwarapala and jaladwara statues in Podorejo Village.

In addition to gradiomagnetic devices that have the ability to detect objects at shallow depths, the team of geologists also uses georadar tools.

This electronic device is a subsurface tracking device. earth with radio waves. Georadar is usually used for shallow exploration with very high resolution so that it is able to detect subsurface targets up to centimeters in size.

Several anomalous distributions that have been detected using gradiomagnetics have all been recorded and marked on each two square meter area of the garden plot with a total area of about 14 x 30 meters.

"The provisional results are still being processed. While still getting raw data. We will process it later, and we will convey the results in the next few days," he said.

In the survey or research with a geological approach, no excavation activities were carried out.

They only made a map of the distribution of objects that were read on the detection results using two object detector devices in the earth with shallow depths, to be used as initial instructions for the archaeological team who wanted to carry out excavations.

" It's possible that the height anomaly that is read (the tool) is related to statues or other historical objects with solid materials derived from andesite rock. But it could also be other things," he said.

According to Hidayat's explanation, the high anomaly is detected by gradiomagnetic or georadar, basically. So it can be many things. For example, from the foundation of a fence wall or a building in which there is muscle made of iron/steel.

"It could also be bolder andesitic stones. So to prove it, we need collaboration with archeology," he said.

The research was a special request from the Tulungagung Bappeda to the team of geologists The Bandung Geological Agency, which has been in Tulungagung for four weeks for research purposes, is planning a proposed geopark area for an ancient volcanic crater in the southern part of Tulungagung.

The research was carried out in a garden located in Podorejo Village, Wonodadi District, following the discovery of two statues believed to be relics of the Majapahit era in Saturday, February 26, 2022.