Cultural Resource Management for a Majapahit Kingdom Site in Trowulan, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

The Kingdom of Majapahit located in East Java, Indonesia, was established in 1293 ce and lasted until its destruction in the sixteenth century. At its peak, the Kingdom covered the modern-day region of Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. Archaeological remains from the Majapahit era have been discovered in several places, including Java, Bali, and Sumatra, but the most important site is located in the small town of Trowulan in East Java. Trowulan has been researched since the beginning of nineteenth century, with most of the work concerned with the study and preservation of the archaeological remains; little research has taken place regarding the archaeological remains in the relation to the local community. Archaeologists and the government agree that the inhabitants of Trowulan have violated regulations related to the protection of the monuments and that their activities have damaged the site. Until now neither the neither archaeologists nor the government have conducted any research into the reasons behind the local community’s actions. Understanding the local communities’ perspectives and aspiration is essential in order to develop relevant recommendations regarding the protection and management Trowulan’s cultural heritage. This research has been undertaken using qualitative methods, including observations, in-depth interviews, and Focus Group discussions.

Keywords:

• regulation
• looting
• illicit antiquities
• smuggling
• site destruction
• community aspirations

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the Archaeological Remain Directorate, East Java Archaeological Preservation Board and Remain, Centre for Cultural Research and Development, Department of Archaeology University of Indonesia. He would also like to thank Diding Fahrudin, Daisy Indira Yasmine, Lidia Triana, and Nina Setiawati.

Notes

1. Law Number 5 (1992) Concerning Items of Cultural Heritage Property, revised as Law Number 11 (2010) concerning Cultural Heritage. Generally, Law Number 11 is similar to Law Number 5, although penalties for rule breakers (imprisonment and fines) are tougher.

2. The aim is to establish a better understanding of the site and the daily activities of the inhabitants (Rudito & Famiola, 2008: 133–34). It resulted in natural, social, and cultural descriptions of Trowulan and its local communities.

3. In-depth interviews were carried out to support questions raised during the observation period (Neuman, 1997: 361–62).

4. FGD were formed to enable discussions with several informants to try to solve the problems the community faced (Fern, 2001: 19–21).

5. McManamon and Hatton (2000: 10) state that in the preservation of archaeological heritage attention should also be paid to possible utilization by the local community. Peter Howard said: ‘Heritage is for people; not just for a small minority of specialists and experts, but for everyone’ (Howard, 2003: 33).

6. Taken from the Kakawin Sutasoma, written by Mpu Tantular during the Majapahit Kingdom.