Malang District Head M. Sanusi said that archaeologists have been successful in conceiving the approximate form of the temple that dates back to the 10th century, and the site will be opened as a tourism destination.
"The experts have been successful in conceiving the approximate form of the ancient temple, and we will reconstruct the temple. I hope the site will be a new historical tourism destination in Malang," Sanusi informed in Malang District on Tuesday.
The district head said that the Srigading temple site will be managed by a village-owned enterprise and is expected to benefit local residents.
The district authority will also provide supporting facilities to the archaeological site that has been excavated three times, Sanusi said, adding that the authority will install a lighting system at the site.
"We will install a solar-powered lighting system at four points of the site to ensure the archaeological site is secured and maintained well," he remarked.
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Meanwhile, Head of the Srigading Site Excavation Team of the East Java Cultural Heritage Preservation Agency (BPCB) Wicaksono Dwi Nugroho said that the agency needs to coordinate with the relevant institutions regarding the progress of the excavation, as the archaeological site is currently located on privately owned land.
"We have reported the technical requirement on the site's land status that is currently private-owned, and we have also requested roof and fence facilities to protect the weakened bricks and to mark the complex boundary," Nugroho informed.
The Srigading archaeological site, earlier known as Cegumuk by locals, was discovered in 1985. At the time, a yoni stone and several sculptures were found at the mound-form site.
Experts from East Java BPCB confirmed that the temple facing eastward towards Mount Semeru was used as a place of worship by Siwaist Hindus.
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Translator: Vicki Febrianto, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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