In a breakthrough for Southeast Asian archaeology, a team has discovered the ruins of a Srivijayan-era brick temple deep within the jungles of West Kalimantan, Borneo. This find is significant as it proves the influential Srivijaya Empire maintained a permanent religious and administrative presence on the island of Borneo much earlier than previously thought.
The temple's architecture features Tantric Buddhist motifs and decorative brickwork identical to those found at Muara Jambi in Sumatra. The site also yielded several bronze statuettes of Avalokiteshvara, indicating that this jungle outpost was a vibrant center for the dissemination of Buddhist teachings along the maritime trade routes.