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rcheologists from the Trowulan prehistoric legacy conservation agency (BP3) in Mojokerto have begun surveying a newly discovered site in Malang believed to be the remains of the lost kingdom of Kanjuruhan.

A team of archeologists have started their excavation activities by using a grid system to map out the buried site, which was believed to have been lost around 1,300 years ago.

Team chairman Kuswanto said the excavation is scheduled for four days, finishing Saturday.

"We will first see the content and then will decide on what we should do with the historical finding," Kuswanto said.

A pile of five layers of red bricks, with each brick measuring 22X12X9 centimeter, was seen buried on the site, which had initially been developed into a residential complex.

Archeologist Dwi Cahyono of the Malang State University said the layers could indicate that the site was the center of the Kanjuruhan Kingdom, believed to have been in existence since the 6th century.

"The indication can be seen from the floor, which was made of bricks," Dwi said.

Such a floor was believed to be parts of the residential buildings of noble families in the past, he said.

He added that before the 15th century, the Kanjuruhan Kingdom was still an autonomous region.

Later, as the pressure from the Mataram Kingdom under the rule of King Gajayana increased, it fell under the authority of the Mataram Kingdom.

"The site, which was found on Jl. Dinoyo, is believed to have been the center of the Kanjuruhan Kingdom before it received pressure from the Mataram kingdom," Dwi said.

He said other supporting indications included the location of the site, which was near a river.

In the past, the center of a kingdom had always been built near a water resource, in this case the Metro and Brantas Rivers in the region.

Three months ago, workers at a construction site, 30 meters from Brantas River, found the layers of the bricks as they were starting construction to build a residential complex in the area.

Apart from the bricks, they also found pieces of earthenware.

The finding convinced archeologists that the Dinoyo and neighboring Tlogomas area were located on the site of a former center of civilization during the Kanjuruhan era.

Other discoveries previously made in the site included a drainage system under the Dinoyo market.

A similar drainage ditch was also found later in a site less then a kilometer away from the market.

These exclude other findings including a number of lingga and yoni as well as patirtan (holy water resources).

Dwi said that the ancient brick foundation suggested the social condition of the surrounding area in the past, which was likely where the wealthy community lived.

"People of ordinary social status would not use brick for their houses," he said.

"They might just leave the soil to be the floor of their homes."

Dwi expressed hope that Malang municipal administration's relevant agencies would seriously follow up the finding, especially because it was located in a commercial area.

"Otherwise, they will just destroy the historical site."

A similar site was found once in the Sarana Tidar Indah region, but it was later destroyed and turned into a housing complex due to a lack of serious handling from the city administration.