One of the most remarkable archaeological finds on the
island in recent years has been found by a Balinese landowner. Wayan Puja of
Banjar Dalem in Pejaten Village in Tabanan Regency discovered a man-made cave
complex beneath his farmland lately. The finding has enormous cultural value,
and the Tabanan Culture Service and Wayan Puja both believe that the place can
be conserved for future generations.
Wayan Puja is reported to have discovered the cave
complex while removing vegetation from his farm. Puja has been visiting the
site every day since it was discovered. He has been blessing his property and
bringing offerings to it. He and his younger brother Ketut Nada have
constructed a bamboo framework around the cave's entrance, covered by a
corrugated zinc roof, to keep the area as intact as possible and prepared for
archaeological teams to conduct a study.
The Tabanan Culture Service visited the location and
confirmed Puja's discovery. They told the press that the cave complex contains
four chambers, but there could be more to the cave than meets the eye right
now. Puja and the Tabanan Culture Service have notified the appropriate
authorities that the cave is a potential cultural heritage site. In light of this,
a comprehensive excavation would require government clearance, as specified in
the Cultural Conservation Act.
The application to the Cultural Conservation
Preservation Agency and Bali's Archeology Centre requests that the site be
excavated and up to 40cm of sediment be removed. What is certain is that the
cave was built for cultural or religious reasons. The cave's principal
function, according to the teams, was meditation. Its origins may be linked to
the Goa Gajah Temple and Cave.
No formal investigations or excavations will commence
during the Galungan celebration, according to Ketut Nada, who informed
reporters that beginning excavation will most likely begin after Kuningan Day,
the festival's final day. He stated that the Cultural Conservation Preservation
Agency and Bali's Archeology Centre had recognized their application and that
efforts were underway to register this newly found historical site with the
government.
Wayan Sugatra, the Head of Tabanan Culture Service,
told reporters that the objective now is to safeguard the cave from further
damage. He stated that listing the site as a "cultural heritage
object" would mean that it is legally protected for its significant
historical, scientific, or cultural worth.
This implies that vandalism or intentional damage to
the site will result in criminal charges. It also implies that the site may be
qualified for a government grant for repair and long-term preservation.
In Indonesia, there are about 8,000 cultural heritage
assets and items, including temples, mosques, historic buildings, and national
parks. Many of these sites have also been designated as World Heritage Sites.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
frequently funds World Heritage Sites (UNSECO).
Bali's World Heritage Sites have become some of the
island's most well-known and popular tourist destinations. Bali's fifteen World
Heritage Sites include Tirta Empul Temple, Ulun Danu Batur Temple, and the
Tatuluwih Rice Fields.
Wayan Puja is hoping that his finding will be
protected and preserved by the Indonesian government and UNESCO in the future.
In the meanwhile, he plans to care for the caves personally and collaborate
with archaeological teams to explore and rebuild the cave so that visitors can
visit the cave and his community.
Local archaeological teams will assist him in
determining the purpose of the cave. The location has the potential to become
Bali's next must-see tourism destination.
Wayan Puja is not the only man attempting to launch
new tourism ventures in order to help his village. A group of young cultural
conservationists in Temesi Village, Gianyar Regency, is collaborating to put
the 'undiscovered' Temesi Waterfall on the tourist map. The waterfall is
considered one of Bali's best-kept secrets.