Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — For over a week, Cipto Suwarno has been tirelessly digging his rice field in Wanoboyo Village, Klaten, Central Java. Armed with a medium-sized hoe, Suwarno worked from dawn till dusk, laboriously tearing through the soil. The extent of his excavations was immeasurable.
His primary goal was to restore the irrigation water flow to his field, disrupted by a nearby project that had altered the land’s contours. However, on Wednesday, October 17, 1990, as he reached a depth of 2.5 meters, his hoe suddenly struck a hard object. Initially thinking it was just a stone, Suwarno tried to move it aside. But upon lifting the object, he was stunned.
“Gold, gold, gold!” he shouted.
To his amazement, the hard object was not a stone but a ceramic jar encased in gold. The discovery quickly attracted a crowd. In the presence of village officials, Suwarno continued digging and unearthed a treasure trove: 16 kilograms of gold.
Detailed inventory of the find revealed: “a bulbous bowl, 6 bowl lids, 3 dippers, 1 tray, 97 bracelets, 22 bowls, a smoking pipe, a large jar, 2 small jars, 11 rings, 7 plates, 8 earrings, a handbag, a kris (traditional dagger), beads, and coins,” reported Tempo (November 3, 1990).
Suwarno’s discovery, now known as the Wonoboyo Treasure, is recorded in history as the largest gold archaeological find in Indonesia.
Archaeologists have dated the treasure to the late 9th to mid-10th century, based on the artifacts’ design. The gold bowls bear Ramayana reliefs, and the coins are inscribed with “Saragi Diah Bunga.”
The Wonoboyo Treasure provides insights into how the Javanese people, from both elite and commoner backgrounds, utilized gold in their daily lives during the 9th and 10th centuries.
A Tradition of Gold in Central Java
Historically, gold was abundant and affordable, becoming an integral part of ancient Javanese society.
Records indicate that during the Majapahit era (1293-1527 AD), nobles often possessed vast quantities of gold. Various objects, from chariots to fans, were adorned with the precious metal.
Stuart Robson, in Desawarnana by Mpu Prapanca (1995), highlights similar practices in the Daha Kingdom, contemporaneous with Majapahit. He notes the princess of Daha frequently used a gold-plated chariot.
In Menuju Puncak Kemegahan (2012), archaeologist Slamet Mulyana recounts how gold was highly coveted during Majapahit times, as detailed by Mpu Prapanca in Nagarakertagama. Prapanca wrote, “He aspired to be like Empu Winada, who dreamed of amassing great wealth and gold,” a sentiment echoed by Mulyana.
Gold was not only for aesthetics but also played a significant role in trade. Erwin Kusuma’s Uang Indonesia: Sejarah dan Perkembangannya (2021) notes that ancient Javanese commonly used gold for market transactions. However, gold was typically reserved for large-scale deals, such as land sales, rather than everyday market purchases.
Foreign explorers often remarked on the Javanese affinity for gold. Chinese travelers, visiting Java, marveled at the lavish lifestyles of the kings. As chronicled in Nusantara dalam Catatan Tionghoa (2009), they observed gold everywhere, even in the king’s dining utensils.
Similarly, European explorer Tome Pires, in Suma Oriental (1944), described his 1513 visit to Java, noting the king’s opulence, adorned head to toe in gold. His guards and even pet dogs sported gold collars and bracelets.
Kali Biru, a Small Paradise in the Remote Area of Raja Ampat
Despite their gold enthusiasm, the Javanese couldn’t mine it locally and instead imported gold from Sumatra, known as the “Golden Paradise,” or from India.
Over time, as ancient kingdoms fell and colonialism rose, lifestyles changed, and gold jewelry became buried treasure, hidden underground, waiting to be discovered by treasure hunters.
Eventually, royal gold was found on a large scale in Wonoboyo. The Wonoboyo Treasure is now housed at the National Museum in Jakarta.
(Agung)
