Liyangan Site

Unveiling the Veil of Ancient Mataram Civilization: An In-depth Exploration of Liyangan Site

Liyangan Site is not just an ordinary pile of temple stones; it is a time capsule buried beneath the volcanic material of Mount Sindoro for over a thousand years. Located in Purbosari Village, Ngadirejo District, Temanggung Regency, Central Java, this site offers a unique portrait of life in a classical Indonesian settlement, unlike what is found at other major sites like Borobudur or Prambanan.

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Historical Origins and Unexpected Discovery

The existence of Liyangan Site was first revealed in 2008 by local sand miners. Situated on the northeastern slope of Mount Sindoro at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters above sea level, the site was initially covered by pyroclastic material 10 to 12 meters deep. This discovery surprised the archaeological world because what was found was not just a single structure, but a vast complex encompassing residential areas, places of worship, and agricultural land.

Based on radiocarbon analysis and ceramic findings, Liyangan Site is estimated to date from the 2nd to 11th centuries AD. Its peak prosperity is believed to have occurred during the era of the Ancient Mataram Kingdom (Sanjaya Dynasty). Uniquely, Liyangan provides evidence that this region had been inhabited long before the construction of the great temples in Central Java, indicating a long continuity of civilization on the slopes of Sindoro.

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Architecture and Spatial Planning: A Structured City

Unlike other archaeological sites dominated by religious buildings, Liyangan Site exhibits a highly complex settlement spatial plan. The area is divided into four main sections (terracing) reflecting the hierarchy of functions and land elevation.

1. Residential Area: Remains of wooden pillars that have turned to charcoal have been found, indicating that houses at that time used organic materials built on stone foundations (batur). This provides a concrete picture of the architecture of commoner and noble houses of Ancient Mataram.

2. Worship Area: Several temple structures and worship platforms (batur) are present. The temples at Liyangan have a distinctive architectural style, with simple yet sturdy base profiles, showing a strong influence of Hindu Shiva.

3. Agricultural Area: One of the most spectacular findings is the remains of ancient agricultural land that still shows traces of carbonized rice and secondary crops. This proves that irrigation systems and land management were highly advanced at that time.

4. Ancient Roads: Footpaths made of river stones (coral stones) have been discovered, connecting one area to another, indicating mature urban planning.

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Historical Significance and Catastrophic Events

Liyangan Site is often referred to as the "Pompeii of Java." This is because the site was forcibly "preserved" by a massive eruption of Mount Sindoro that occurred around the 10th or 11th century. The volcanic material that buried the site actually protected the artifacts from weathering and human looting for centuries.

This catastrophic event provides accurate chronological data for historians. The soil layers that enveloped Liyangan indicate that this settlement experienced several phases of habitation before it was finally abandoned entirely due to massive volcanic activity. This is also closely related to the theory of the relocation of the Ancient Mataram kingdom's center of power from Central Java to East Java by Mpu Sindok, one of the triggers of which is believed to be a major natural disaster.

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Related Figures and Periods

Although no inscriptions mentioning specific kings were found at the main site, artifacts discovered, such as ceramics from the Tang Dynasty (China), indicate that Liyangan was part of an international trade network in the 9th and 10th centuries. The influence of the Sanjaya Dynasty is strongly evident in the iconography of the remaining statues and reliefs found, reinforcing Liyangan's position as an important region under the authority of the central kingdom in the Mataram heartland.

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Cultural and Religious Importance

Liyangan functioned as both a spiritual and social center. The presence of springs (petirtaan) around the site indicates that water played a sacred role in the lives of its people. Rituals of purification and worship of Hindu deities, especially Shiva, were integrated with daily agricultural activities. This reflects the concept of Local Genius of the ancient Javanese people, who were able to combine imported religious teachings with local wisdom in managing the mountainous environment.

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Preservation Status and Restoration Efforts

Currently, Liyangan Site is managed by the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region IX. The main challenge in preservation is the site's location in the middle of an active sand mining area. The government has designated this area as a Cultural Heritage Site to stop further damage from heavy machinery.

Excavation processes are still ongoing, considering the site is estimated to cover more than 4 hectares, with only a small portion having been uncovered. Restoration efforts are carried out very carefully, especially on stone structures that had shifted due to the pressure of volcanic material. The site is now also being developed as an educational historical tourism destination, allowing visitors to witness archaeological excavation processes firsthand.

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Unique Facts and Important Findings

Some unique facts that distinguish Liyangan from other sites include:

• Discovery of Charcoal: The discovery of building wood remains that did not disintegrate into ash but turned into structurally intact charcoal allows researchers to identify the types of trees used to build houses during the Ancient Mataram period.
• Drainage System: The discovery of stone drainage channels indicates a high understanding of environmental sanitation on the mountain slopes.
• Domestic Tools: The discovery of household tools such as pottery, square adzes, and jewelry provides insight into the social stratification of its inhabitants.

In conclusion, Liyangan Site is a silent witness to the glory of the agrarian and spiritual civilization of ancient Central Java. It is not merely a stone monument, but a complete narrative of how past humans adapted, believed, and ultimately submitted to the forces of nature under the shadow of Mount Sindoro. Through Liyangan, we learn that history is not just about great kings, but also about the pulse of ordinary people's lives who built the foundation of Nusantara's culture.