Prambanan Temple Must Be Dismantled
Thursday, 08 June, 2006 | 14:42 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta: Prambanan Temple, located between Yogyakarta and Klaten, must be totally dismantled.

The result of an investigation by the Special Region of Yogyakarta’s Ancient Heritage Preservation Agency showed that the Hindu temple sank ten centimeters due to the earthquake.

If it is to be repaired by replacing the fallen-off sculptures, it is worried that the damage will become even worse.

“So as Prambanan remains beautiful for a long period of time, all the reliefs must be taken down. The foundation must be made more solid. Then the reliefs will be arranged as before,” said Timbul Haryono, a professor of archeology at Gajah Mada University (UGM).

According to Timbul, Prambanan's condition is worsened if it is in fact slanted.

The 47-meter high temple could break apart if it slants more and sinks deeper.

He explained that in fact not only Prambanan needs to be totally dismantled.

Other temples, including Plaosan, Sojiwan, and Sewu temples also have be dismantled following the earthquake on May 27.

Siwa temple, in the Prambanan complex, said Timbul, was last renovated in 1953 and President Soekarno officiated at the re-opening.

Agus Waluyo, Head of the Yogyakarta Ancient Heritage Preseervation Agency, said the agency will carry out an in-depth investigation into Prambanan's condition.

The reconstruction, said Agus, must apply various different sciences, such as archeology and civil engineering.

However, the decision to dismantle all parts of the temple or only some parts of it still awaits the in-depth analysis of the Ancient Heritage Reservation Agency.

Agus said the agency has been identifying all ancient heritage sites in Prambanan which are ruined due to the earthquake.

In addition, the agency must secure the ancient reliefs because a lot of them broke off and fell to the ground.

“This rescue is important because of the risk of ancient reliefs being stolen,” said Agus.

Syaiful Amin