Excavations near the base of Mount Merapi in Central Java have brought to light a remarkably preserved 8th-century temple dedicated to Dewi Sri, the Hindu-Buddhist goddess of rice and fertility. The temple was buried under a thick layer of "cold lahar" following a volcanic eruption over 1,000 years ago, which acted as a protective seal for the delicate stone carvings. The discovery was made by local farmers while deepening an irrigation canal.
The structure is notable for its elaborate agricultural friezes, which depict the entire cycle of rice cultivation, from sowing to harvest, interwoven with mythological scenes. Archaeologists believe this site was a "State Granary Temple," where the kingdom's rice surplus was ritually blessed before distribution. The find offers invaluable insights into the agrarian foundations of the Sailendra Dynasty's power.