A newly discovered Temple to render traces of Indonesia’s past

Archaeologists in Indonesia have revealed a 1,000-year-old temple that could provide more information on the country’s Hindu past.

The intricately engraved statues and reliefs are some of the best conserved in Indonesia, but the dig is being carried out under tight security to shield the site from well-organized artifact thieves.

The temple was found on the base of Yogyakarta’s Islamic University as workers explored the ground to lay foundations for a new library, and they realized the earth below their feet was not stable.

Digging soon revealed a strange find: three meters underground were still-standing temple walls. Heavy rains then uncovered the top of a statue of the god Ganesha in immaculate condition.

After a few weeks into the excavation, the archaeologists have stated that the temple and its exceptional and beautiful statues a significant discovery that could provide insight into Indonesia’s pre-Islamic culture.
“This temple is a quite significant and very valuable because we have never found a temple as whole and intact as this one,” said archaeologist Dr Budhy Sancoyo, who is one of the researchers painstakingly cleaning up the temple.

“For example, looking at where the statues are placed in this temple, they are in their original positions, unlike the other temples.

“This temple is important for understanding the culture of our ancestors.”