Wonoboyo hoard

Discovery

The hoard was discovered on 17 October 1990 in Plosokuning hamlet, Wonoboyo village, Klaten, Central Java, when a paddy field owned by Mrs. Cipto Suwarno was being dug by Witomoharjo and five other workers as part of an irrigation project. After digging down 2.5 metres, Witomoharjo hit a hard surface that he thought was a stone. However, after digging further they unearthed three large terracotta jars containing large numbers of coins and amounts of gold artifacts. The discovery was reported to village authorities, and reached the attention of the Culture and Education Authority.

The treasure

The total weight of treasure was 16.9 kilograms of valuable artifacts, of which 14.9 kilograms were gold and 2 kilograms silver. It consists of more than 1,000 ceremonial objects, including:

• a bulbous golden bowl carved with Ramayana scene
• a Ramayana carved golden wide-sided bowl. ("Bokor emas berhias relief cerita Ramayana" in Indonesian) This artifact has been identified as one of the cultural properties of Indonesia in 2013.
• 6 golden lids
• 3 golden water dippers
• 1 tray
• 97 golden arm bracelets
• 22 small bowls
• a pipe
• a large Tang dynasty terracotta jar as the container
• 2 smaller jars
• 11 golden rings
• 7 plates
• 8 golden earrings
• a golden handbag
• a golden keris handle or probably a parasol golden tip ornament
• some beads
• some cornseed-like golden coins

In addition to the above artifacts there were more than 6,000 gold and silver coins.

The Wonoboyo hoard is displayed in Treasure Room in National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta, and a replica of the treasure is on display at the Prambanan museum. The hoard has also been exhibited in Australia.

The Wonoboyo hoard is one of the most important archaeological findings in Indonesia. Next to the high value of the gold and silver artifacts, it also a significant to reveal the wealth, economy, art and culture of 9th century Javanese Medang Kingdom. The artifacts shows the intricate artworks, also displays the aesthetic and technical mastery of ancient Java goldsmith. On the surface of the gold coins engraved with a script "ta", a short form of "tail" or "tahil" a unit of currency in ancient Java. Also revealed the scripts "Saragi Diah Bunga" engraved in one of the treasure written in Kawi language, which probably was the name of the owner. The hoard was estimated dated from the reign of King Balitung (899–911). The treasure has been identified as belonging to a noble or the member of royal family.