Wonoboyo hoard
Encyclopedia
Wonoboyo hoard is an important archaeological find of golden
and silver
artifacts from the 9th century Medang Kingdom in Central Java, Indonesia
. It was discovered in October 1990 in Plosokuning hamlet, Wonoboyo village, Klaten
, Central Java
, near Prambanan
.
, Central Java
, when a paddy field owned by Mrs. Cipto Suwarno was being dug by Witomoharjo and five other workers as part of an irrigation project. After digging down 2.5 metres, Witomoharjo hit a hard surface that he thought was a stone. However, after digging further they unearthed three large terracotta jars containing large amounts of coins and gold artifacts. The discovery was reported to village authorities, and reached the attention of the Culture and Education Authority.
In addition to the above artifacts there were more than 6,000 gold and silver coins.
The Wonoboyo hoard is displayed in Treasure Room in National Museum of Indonesia
, Jakarta
, and a replica of the treasure is on display at the Prambanan
museum. The hoard has also been exhibited in Australia.
The Wonoboyo hoard is one of the most important archaeological findings in Indonesia. Next to the high value of the gold and silver artifacts, it also a significant to reveal the wealth, economy, art and culture of 9th century Javanese Medang Kingdom. The artifacts shows the intricate artworks, also displays the aesthetic and technical mastery of ancient Java goldsmith
. On the surface of the gold coins engraved with a script "ta", a short form of "tail" or "tahil" a unit of currency in ancient Java. Also revealed the scripts "Saragi Diah Bunga" engraved in one of the treasure written in Kawi language
, which probably was the name of the owner. The hoard was estimated dated from the reign of King Balitung
(899–911). The treasure has been identified as belonging to a noble or the member of royal family.
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
artifacts from the 9th century Medang Kingdom in Central Java, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. It was discovered in October 1990 in Plosokuning hamlet, Wonoboyo village, Klaten
Klaten
Klaten is a regency in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Klaten.-Geograpy:Klaten borders on Boyolali Regency in the North, Sukoharjo Regency and Wonogiri Regency in the East, and Special Region of Yogyakarta to the South and West...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, near Prambanan
Prambanan
Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
.
Discovery
The hoard was discovered on 17 October 1990 in Plosokuning hamlet, Wonoboyo village, KlatenKlaten
Klaten is a regency in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Klaten.-Geograpy:Klaten borders on Boyolali Regency in the North, Sukoharjo Regency and Wonogiri Regency in the East, and Special Region of Yogyakarta to the South and West...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, when a paddy field owned by Mrs. Cipto Suwarno was being dug by Witomoharjo and five other workers as part of an irrigation project. After digging down 2.5 metres, Witomoharjo hit a hard surface that he thought was a stone. However, after digging further they unearthed three large terracotta jars containing large amounts of coins and gold artifacts. The discovery was reported to village authorities, and reached the attention of the Culture and Education Authority.
The treasure
The total weight of treasure was 16.9 kilograms of valuable artifacts, of which 14.9 kilograms were gold and 2 kilograms silver. It consists of more than 1,000 ceremonial objects, including:- a bulbous golden bowl carved with RamayanaRamayanaThe Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
scene - a Ramayana carved golden bowl
- 6 golden lids
- 3 golden water dippers
- 1 tray
- 97 golden arm bracelets
- 22 small bowls
- a pipe
- a large Tang dynastyTang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
terracotta jar as the container - 2 smaller jars
- 11 golden rings
- 7 plates
- 8 golden earrings
- a golden handbag
- a golden kerisKrisThe kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
handle or probably a parasol golden tip ornament - some beads
- some cornseed-like golden coins
In addition to the above artifacts there were more than 6,000 gold and silver coins.
The Wonoboyo hoard is displayed in Treasure Room in National Museum of Indonesia
National Museum of Indonesia
The National Museum of Indonesia , is an archeological, historical, ethnological, and geographical museum located in Jakarta. Popularly known as Elephant Building after the elephant statue in its forecourt. Its broad and fascinating collections covers all of Indonesia's territory and almost all of...
, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, and a replica of the treasure is on display at the Prambanan
Prambanan
Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
museum. The hoard has also been exhibited in Australia.
The Wonoboyo hoard is one of the most important archaeological findings in Indonesia. Next to the high value of the gold and silver artifacts, it also a significant to reveal the wealth, economy, art and culture of 9th century Javanese Medang Kingdom. The artifacts shows the intricate artworks, also displays the aesthetic and technical mastery of ancient Java goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
. On the surface of the gold coins engraved with a script "ta", a short form of "tail" or "tahil" a unit of currency in ancient Java. Also revealed the scripts "Saragi Diah Bunga" engraved in one of the treasure written in Kawi language
Kawi language
Kawi is a literary and prose language on the islands of Java, Bali, and Lombok, based on Old Javanese, a language with a sizable vocabulary of Sanskrit loanwords. Kawi is the ancestor language of modern Javanese. The name "kawi" is derived from the root ku, which in Sanskrit means “poet”, and, in...
, which probably was the name of the owner. The hoard was estimated dated from the reign of King Balitung
Balitung
Sri Maharaja Rakai Watukura Dyah Balitung Sri Dharmodaya Mahasambu was the king of the Kingdom of Mataram. He reigned circa 899–911. His territories included Central Java, East Java, and Bali.- Origin :...
(899–911). The treasure has been identified as belonging to a noble or the member of royal family.
Further reading
- Miksic, John. N. Old Javanese gold Singapore : Ideation, c1990. ISBN 9810016220