Tulungagung residents dismantle ancient 16th-century tomb

Residents of Sembung Village in Tulungagung, East Java, dismantled an ancient tomb believed to date from the 16th or 17th century. The tomb, located on private land, was opened following community discussions to relocate the remains to a cemetery in Botoran Village. However, after digging to a depth of three meters, no remains were found.

Experts from the Tulungagung Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB) noted that the tombstone features the ‘Tembayat’ or ‘Baya’ style. This architectural characteristic is typical of the transitional period between the Hindu-Buddhist era and the early spread of Islam in Java. The tombstone is carved from andesite stone with manual textures and a shape resembling a ‘gunungan’ or silhouette found in traditional puppetry.

The landowner reported that the tomb was first discovered in 1995 after a rain tree was felled on the property. No names or specific identities were inscribed on the stone, leaving the identity of the deceased unknown.