Jakarta, IO – A number of ancient tombs have emerged after the Gajah Mungkur reservoir in Wonogiri regency, Central Java, dried up. This phenomenon occurs because the prolonged dry season.
Almost all the tombs that surfaced contained white, rock-like gravestone, a stone covering a grave that is integrated with the tombstone, usually made of marble, tiles or cement, per CNNIndonesia, Tuesday (19/9).
One of the tomb complexes was found in Jaban, Wuryantoro sub-district. Some of the tombstones were intact in their places, some were scattered, and some were damaged due to water erosion.
Some of them have inscription of the name of the deceased and the year of their death, although most of them are difficult to read.
It proves that this area was once a residential area. It is known that the reservoir was built in 1978 and has been in operation since 1980. When it was built, it was recorded that around 40,000 residents living in 45 villages in six sub-districts in Wonogiri had to be relocated.
Dennys Pradita, chairman of the Indonesian Historians Society (MSI) Wonogiri Commissariat, explained that in the past there were lots of limestone rocks in the southern part of Wonogiri. The rocks were then mined and used for building houses and making gravestones.
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“In that period (1970s) limestone was widely used by the local residents. Usually, white stone, limestone,” explained Dennys.
This phenomenon can be witnessed by the community around the reservoir because when the reservoir water level receded usually there is a path that motobikes can pass through. (un)