Prehistoric human skeleton, coffins found in Gianyar

A team of researchers from the Denpasar Archeological Agency recently discovered what it believes is a prehistoric human skeleton, in Keramas village, Gianyar.

The skeleton and two coffins were unearthed by local residents in a brick plant in Delod Peken hamlet, three weeks ago. They reported the find to the Blahbatuh Police, which then passed on the information to the agency.

“Our team of 12 researchers began excavating the objects earlier this week,” agency head I Wayan Suantika told The Jakarta Post at the excavation site.

The first discovery in the excavation was a sarcophagus that was intact. After further digging, the team found a 160-centimeter skeleton around 1 meter underground. The team also found another coffin around 200 meters away to the north of the first site.

The team dug in three locations, each around 4 meters square.

This skeleton was the first such finding in the hamlet, Suantika said, adding that is was the fifth time the agency had found sarcophagi there.

“The skeleton was buried without a coffin. This indicates that prehistoric people in this area used two methods to bury the dead, with and without sarcophagi,” he said, adding that in the prehistoric times, sarcophagi were usually only used to bury influential people in the community.

Researchers estimate that the skeleton and coffins belonged to the megalithic period, around 2,000 years ago, as indicated by objects found around them.

“We found a clay jar near the skeleton’s head, as well as a pick axe buried beside the body,” Suantika said.

He said the team had not worked out how old the person was at the time of death, saying this would require further research.

“We can identify the age with the teeth, and find out whether it was a man or woman from the shape of the hip bone. We can also [possibly] identify the cause of the death.”

The team is scheduled to complete its excavation next week, including opening the two sarcophagi and unearthing other earthenware.

Gianyar regency is the main location in Bali for archeological digs, besides other sites such as Jembrana, Bangli and Manikliu.

In February last year, archeologists found four sarcophagi, also in Keramas village. The site was located around 300 meters to the north of this month’s finding.

“Since 1978, 16 sarcophagi have been found in the village,” Ayu said.

Ayu said the team would bring the findings to the Archeological Conservation Agency, which would be responsible to keep and preserve the objects.