Bongal Site findings may shift timeline of Islam in Nusantara

Archaeological findings at the Bongal Site in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, may significantly alter the historical timeline of Islam's arrival in the Indonesian archipelago (Nusantara). According to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), excavations have uncovered evidence dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE.

Irfan Mahmud, Head of the Center for Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology Research at BRIN, stated that these findings suggest an arrival much earlier than the commonly accepted historical narrative, which often places the establishment of Islamic political entities or kingdoms between the 13th and 15th centuries. This discovery creates a seven-century gap that researchers believe is essential to explore to understand the lifestyles of early Islamic spreaders.

The findings are expected to provide broader opportunities to prove hypotheses regarding grassroots Islamic archaeology, encouraging historians to examine history through the lens of common people rather than focusing solely on the lives of nobility in palace centers.