PATI 2025 Results Workshop: Udayana University Archaeology Students Revive the Tradition of Mpu Balung

• By Admin
• Kamis, 12 Februari 2026

Denpasar, February 12, 2026 – The 2025 Integrated Indonesian Archaeology Research (PATI) Workshop was held online on Wednesday (February 11, 2026). This event served as a forum for presenting the results of research conducted as part of the 2025 PATI program in the Sangiran Cultural Heritage Area, Sragen, Central Java.

The workshop began with a report from the PATI 2025 Coordinator, Rochtri Agung Bawono. In his report, he said that PATI is a collaborative program that brings together academics and students from various universities to conduct integrated research in Sangiran. He emphasized that this workshop was a space to present the results of field activities and to evaluate the development of future programs.

The remarks of the Director General of Development, Utilization, and Fostering of Culture at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Ahmad Mahendra, M.Tr.AP., were delivered by the Secretary of the Directorate General, Judi Wahjudin, S.S., M.Hum., as his representative. In his speech, he stated that archaeological research in the Sangiran area plays an important role in enriching knowledge of Indonesian prehistory while also supporting sustainable site management.

The workshop was officially opened by the Vice Chair of the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation, Sitie Indrawati Djojohadikusumo. In her remarks, she expressed her appreciation for the implementation of PATI 2025 and encouraged participants to continue developing archaeological research that has a broad impact on strengthening the nation's identity and history. She also emphasized that the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation supports PATI activities as a form of commitment to the development of archaeological research, site preservation, and the cultivation of young people as future researchers.

This event also featured a talk titled The Direction of Archaeological Research to Uncover the Nation's Civilization with Dr. Herry Yogaswara, M.A., Head of OR Arbastra BRIN, as the guest speaker. In his presentation, he emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in archaeological research and collaboration between researchers, the government, and the community in preserving cultural heritage.

During the presentation session, the workshop served as a forum for various PATI 2025 research teams to present their reports, including excavation, conservation, and popular article teams. The excavation and conservation teams presented a series of activities and lessons learned from PATI 2025,  through presentations by Luthfi Fadillah (University of Jambi) and Virzihni Nasution (University of Indonesia).

In the popular article presentation, one of the presenters was from the Archaeology Study Program at Udayana University, I Gusti Putu Alit Putra Mahendra. In his article entitled “The Tradition of Fossil Handling by Mpu Balung,” he discussed the practice of fossil handling by the people of Manyarejo Village, Sangiran. The research describes the stages of cleaning, joining, and concealing fossil joints, which are carried out through basic techniques, and emphasizes the importance of bridging local knowledge with scientific conservation principles.

At the end of the event, Johny Adhi Aryawan, Head of Cultural Development at the Sragen Education and Culture Office (Disdikbud), also shared his thoughts. He appreciated the implementation of PATI 2025 and considered this forum important for presenting research results to the public and regional stakeholders.

This workshop is expected to be an important step in advancing archaeological research and strengthening collaboration between academics, government, and the community in the management of Sangiran. Additionally, this activity is expected to encourage students to remain active in archaeological research and development and to make a tangible contribution to the preservation of Indonesia's cultural heritage.