Crossing Borders: Selected Papers from the 13th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists

Chapter 9 The Bronze-Iron Human Teeth from Blandongan Temple, West Java, Indonesia

96 Johan Arif and Noviani Arifina-Istiqomah Chapter 9 The Bronze-Iron Human Teeth from Blandongan Temple, West Java, Indonesia Johan Arif and Noviani Arifina-Istiqomah Abstract This paper discusses human permanent molars from the Bronze to Iron Age found at Blandongan Temple in West Java, retrieved in 2003, 2008, and 2010, and includes metrical comparisons made with several molars from Mesolithic and Neolithic samples from Java. Our results show that the Blandongan molars are relatively smaller than comparative material. We suggest that this fact demonstrates a diachronic molar size change from prehistoric to historical time in Java, due to a mutual links between cultural, nutritional and environmental backgrounds. Meanwhile, based on the study of the molar morphological traits, we have come to the conclusion that the Blandongan materials are from descendants of Malay or southern Mongoloid people who experienced genetic influences from immigrants from the north. Introduction The Bronze-Iron period in Indonesia is considered to have begun by about 500–200 BCE and continued until 1000 CE. Most scholars argue that this era is characterized by the inclusion of metal technology and merchandise along with the development of polities which were influenced by Indian culture (Bellwood 2000: 387–8; Bulbeck 2008: 3). Raden Pandji Soejono et al. (Soejono 1976: 217–8) said that the communities of people living in the Bronze-Iron Age are called skilled communities. They possessed a number of special capabilities such as making goods from clay and metal which do not occur in previous periods. As far as is known, BronzeIron archaeological sites are scattered from west to east Indonesia such as those located in North Anyer (West Java), Puger (East Java), Gilimanuk (Bali) and Melolo (Sumba). In 1984 another archaeological site of the Bronze-Iron period was discovered at Batujaya, Krawang, West Java, about 2km from the Citarum River and some 7.5km from the northern coast line of the Java Sea [Fig. 9.1]. Based on pollen analysis, this site was apparently previously situated nearer to the coast of the Java Sea (Polhaupessy 1982: 32). Scattered about there are many dome-shaped mounds, called unur by the local people, that rise above the modern-day paddy fields. These unur are the ruins of brick-built temples and at least two temples have appeared, known as Blandongan and Jiwa. Geologically, the unur are located in the alluvial plain of the Citarum River area of northern Java that consists largely of alluvial deposits and lahar (pyroclastic mud flows) from the volcanoes in the hinterland (van Bemmelen 1949: 27). The 1984 finds are important because they can enhance our knowledge about environmental changes from the prehistoric to the historical periods in Java island. The Archaeological Heritage and Conservation Service (BP3) in Serang (Banten), is currently undertaking conservation work of the Blandongan site. During the seven years of conservation activity, human remains have been found near the Blandongan temple in 2003, 2008, and 2010 [Fig. 9.2]. The human remains found in 2003 and 2008 were situated right in front of the southwest stair access and some 4m east of the southeast stair of the Blandongan temple. Meanwhile, the human remains found in 2010 were located about 30m from the southeast wall of the Blandongan temple. There are at least six 96 Crossing Borders hi res combined96 96 8/23/2012 7:45:33 PM 97 The Bronze-Iron Human Teeth from Blandongan Temple, West Java, Indonesia Fig. 9.1: Location of Blandongan temple (Map: J. Arif). Fig. 9.2: The site finds of human remains in the surrounding area of the Blandongan temple from 2003, 2008 and 2010. The human remains from 2010 were found about 50cm below the base of the Blandongan temple. The human remains from 2008 were close to the base, and the level of those from 2003 was in between (Map: J. Arif). Crossing Borders hi res combined97 97 8/23/2012 7:45:34 PM 98 Johan Arif and Noviani Arifina-Istiqomah locations placed in sequence from southeast to northwest in this area: R-1; R-2; R-3-4; R-5; R-6; R-7 and R-8. The human skeletons in R2 and R3-4 were put in extended positions approximately N60°E. Double molar type teeth were found in some of these burial sites showing different stages of dental wear. These phenomena were found in R-1 2003, R-2 2010, R-3-4 2010...