In Central Java, the Solo River runs from Wonogiri to as far as Mojokerto and Madiun in East Java.

It is also a rich treasury, preserving traces of ancient animals, human ancestors and civilizations that have passed through or developed on the island.

'€œCountless archeological objects are buried along the 550-kilometer-long river stream,'€ Bambang Sulistyanto, chief of the National Archeology Center, said at a recent exhibition. '€œArcheologists keep searching and discovering remnants that have become part of the history of human ancestors.'€

Bambang, who made his comments at a recent exhibition in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, said that traces of the origins of people and of our civilization dating back up to 2 million years ago could be found along the river.

Some of the big discoveries have included Trinil Man in East Java, the Sangiran dome in Central Java, as well as evidence of the first wave of hominid migration to the Indonesian archipelago (Homo erectus) and the second wave (Homo sapiens, i.e., us).

'€œIn the river'€™s upper reaches, we can get an idea of the Paleolithic period, pre-Neolithic period and Neolithic period,'€ Bambang said, referring to eras that span simple hunting to the development of sedentary agriculture.

Massive: On entering the exhibit, visitors can see the fossilized jawbones of a crocodylus (a family of extinct crocodiles) on loan from the Sangiran museum.
The exhibition, held at the Graha Solo Raya in Surakarta, displayed archeological objects depicting the growth of civilization along the Solo River, such as fossils, inscriptions, ceramics, dioramas and statues of the Buddha.

On entering, visitors could see the fossilized jawbones of a crocodylus (a family of extinct crocodiles), on loan from the Sangiran museum. The fossils, almost a meter long, are estimated to date back to between 700,000 and 800,000 years ago.

Gunawan, the head of the Utilization and Publication Section of the Sangiran Prehistoric Man Site Conservation Center, said that the jawbones and teeth were discovered by a local farmer living near the museum.

Also on hand were two fragments of ancient elephant tusks, around 1.5 meters and 50 centimeters long respectively.

The fossils, uncovered after a strong rain, were also found by a person who lived near the Sangiran museum.

There was also a case of skulls of Homo erectus, which lived between 900,000 and 400,000 years ago in the mid-Pleistocene epoch. Unlike other specimens, these were slimmer with skulls that did not protrude as much to the rear.

Walking with a bent back, Homo erectus was believed to have left Africa about 1.8 million years ago, migrating to seek water and food as far as Java.

Gosari inscription: There were also inscriptions dating from the Majapahit era, including one found on the wall of Butulan Cave in Gresik, East Java, which was made in 1376 during the reign of Hayam Wuruk.
'€œThe typical Homo erectus, walking upright, led a nomadic and hunting life. The substantial brain volume and upright posture are two important elements in human evolution,'€ explained Gunawan.

Simple and course stone tools dating to the Paleolithic period were also on display, including hand axes for chopping and pounding. '€œIn the Neolithic period sedentary life and farming activity began, an important phase in the growth of ancient human civilization,'€ Bambang said.

Around 2,000 years ago, stone tools apparently became more refined, as shown by the Sangiran museum'€™s collection of oval and square axes, as well as personal ornaments made from chalcedony and gemstones.

Chalcedony is a type of crystalline quartz that is commonly found in Pacitan, East Java and Sragen, Central Java. Local residents frequently craft the material into souvenirs and its clear color makes it popular among tourists.

There were also inscriptions dating from the Majapahit era, including the one found on the wall of Butulan Cave in Gresik, East Java, which was made in 1376 during the reign of Hayam Wuruk.

From Gresik, there was the Leran inscription, made from bronze with old Javanese characters and said to have originated in the 13th century.

One trace of early Islamic culture in Indonesia was also presented: A tombstone found in Gresik for Fatimah Binti Maimun Bin Hibatallah, who died on 7 Rajab 475 H (Nov. 25, 1082), according to the inscription.

The Leran inscription: Made from bronze with old Javanese characters and this exhibit is said to have originated in the 13th century.
Next were Buddha and Bodhisattva statues from Bendo Temple found near the Gajah Mungkur reservoir in Wonogiri. The temple itself was located in one of the 16 communities inundated to create the reservoir.

The temple was built from limestone, making it unique. While its interior had typical statues and reliefs, the stone bonding techniques used to build it were similar to those used to created Borobudur Temple.

Sadly, Bendo Temple was also submerged when the reservoir was created.

'€œThe exhibition also serves as a campaign for the popularization of archeology in society. We hope that the public will develop a sense of sharing the ownership of these artifacts, so that the preservation of archeological relics can be assured,'€ Bambang said.

While the objects shown at the exhibition comprise a small part of the collection of the museums at Sangiran and Trinil, they also give a picture of evolution and the growth of human civilization from prehistory to the classical era.

All the relics have been discovered during field research along the Solo River. '€œThe relics also offer traces of Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic cultures. The Solo River is a storehouse of the long track record of human civilization from the ancient past to the present,'€ Gunawan said.

Fragments: Countless archeological objects have been buried along the 550-kilometer long stream of the Solo River.

Submerged: Buddha and Bodhisattva from Bendo Temple were on display. The site was inundated to create the Gajah Mungkur reservoir in Wonogiri.

Eye to eye: A case of Homo erectus skulls, which lived between 900,000 and 400,000 years ago in the mid-Pleistocene epoch. Unlike other specimens, these were slimmer with skulls that did not protrude as much to the rear.
'€” Photos by Ganug Nugroho Adi