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9th-Century 'Sailendra' Maritime Temple with Unique Obsidian Statuary and Javanese Inscriptions Identified in Central Sumatra

📅 April 7, 2026 📰 Southeast Asia Archaeological Review
9th-Century 'Sailendra' Maritime Temple with Unique Obsidian Statuary and Javanese Inscriptions Identified in Central Sumatra

Explorers in the dense rainforests of Central Sumatra have located a previously unrecorded brick temple complex belonging to the Sailendra dynasty. The site is distinguished by its obsidian-inlaid statuary, representing a fusion of Hindu-Buddhist iconography that reflects the syncretic nature of 9th-century Southeast Asian religious life.

Surrounding the main shrine are several smaller stupas containing copper scrolls with Old Javanese inscriptions. These texts document the temple's consecration by a royal envoy and mention ritual offerings sent from the Mataram Kingdom. This discovery reinforces the theory of a highly integrated religious and political network spanning the Indonesian archipelago during the early medieval era.

Original source: Southeast Asia Archaeological Review