An archeological research team from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the Purwokerto-based Jendral Sudirman University has discovered at least 50 new sites rich in prehistoric relics along the Kliwang River in Purbalingga, Central Java.
     "We found stone relics made from green jaspers in the form of rings," team leader Sudjatmiko said. "We believe the stones are from the Neolithic period." He added the stones, which were prehistoric man-made pieces, had been found near a waterfall and in rice paddies in the village. Based on these findings, Sudjatmiko went on, the team concluded that humans at that time began creating aesthetic items, in addition to other items they made that served specific functions. He added the team and the regency administration would hold a workshop on the findings in Purbalingga next month.
     Sudjatmiko said Bobotsari district, where the village was located, had been known among archeologists since 1983 as one of the richest sites for relics from prehistoric human civilization from the Neolithic period, following findings by local archeologist Harry Truman Simanjuntak. Besides the area along the Kliwang River, the team earlier discovered 15 new sites along the Tungtung Gunung stream, and along the Laban and Kuning rivers in the regency.
     The rings are believed to date from the Neolithic period and the Paleolithic period, and are now being housed at a workshop in Pasir Luhur, West Java. Purbalingga Regent Triyono Budi Sasongko said recently his administration would soon build a museum to house Neolithic relics, following the recent flurry of findings of sites that contained such relics in the regency. "We respect the researchers and interest in the findings, especially the finding of a precious stone called Le Sang Du Christ [Christ's blood stone], which locals call the Nogo Sui stone," Triyono said.

Source: The Jakarta Post (13 August 2009)