Sangiran : archaeological excavation site in Java

Sangiran

Sangiran is an archaeological excavation site in Java in Indonesia. According to a UNECSO report "Sangiran is recognized by scientists to be one of the most important sites in the world for studying fossil man, ranking alongside Zhoukoudian (China), Willandra Lakes (Australia), Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania), and Sterkfontein (South Africa), and more fruitful in finds than any of these."
Over time, following the initial work by Dubois and von Koenigswald at Sangiran, other scholars including Indonesian archeologists undertook work at the site. Indonesian scholars included Teuku Jacob, Etty Indriati, Sartono, Fachroel Aziz, Harry Widianto, Yahdi Zaim, and Johan Arif.
The current museum and visitors' centre has three main halls. The 1st hall contains a number of dioramas which provide information about the early humans and animals which existed at the Sangiran site around 1 million years ago. The 2nd hall, which is more extensive, presents much detailed material about the wide variety of fossils found at Sangiran and about the history of exploration at the site. The 3rd hall, in a separate impressive presentation, contains a large diorama which provides a sweeping view of the overall area of Sangiran, with volcanoes such as Mount Lawu in the background and humans and animals in the foreground, as it is imagined to have been around 1 million years ago. Several of the presentations in this 3rd hall draw on the work of the internationally-known paleontological sculptress Elisabeth Daynes.
Development of the overall Sangiran site has not been without controversy. Uncontrolled digging and illegal trade in fossils has occurred on various occasions since the site was 1st discovered. For a considerable period, villagers residents in the area frequently dug up and sold fossils to local buyers. Following the enactment of national Law No. 5 of 1992 on cultural heritage objects, there were stronger controls on these activities. However, illegal activities have sometimes continued to occur in recent years. In 2010, for example, an American citizen claiming to be a scientist was arrested near Sangiran while travelling in a truck containing 43 different types of fossils in boxes and sacks with an estimated market value of $2 million.
More recently, there has discussion in the Indonesian media about the way that the development of the Sangiran site has failed to bring any significant tangible benefits to the rural communities in the local area.

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