Bondowoso statue may date from megalithic era

A statue recently unearthed in a village in Bondowoso, East Java, is believed to date back to the megalithic period.

Kompas.com reported Thursday that scientists from the Trowulan Prehistoric Legacy Conservation Center (BP3) have conducted an initial examination of the statue and concluded that it may be from the early megalithic period.

“Two scientists from Trowulan’s BP3 went to where the stature was found,” Bondowoso tourism agency official Joko Suwarno said, adding that he looked forward to the BP3's determination.

The 207-centimeter-tall anthropomorphic statue was discovered Tuesday by residents of Pekauman village in Bondowoso regency.

Joko said the tourism agency would keep a close eye on the excavation site.

“There may be some unscrupulous people who want to sell the prehistoric statue,” he said.