Sangiran Early Man Site
The Sangiran Early Man Site is one of the key sites for the study of human evolution. A second occurence of "Java Man" was discovered here: first discovered in 1891 at Trinil by Dutchman Dubois, more skulls were found by an archeological party organized by German G.H.R. von Königswald at Sangiran (near Solo).
"Java Man" at the time was one of the first known human ancestors. He is now been reclassified as part of the species
Homo erectus.
About 60 more fossils have since been found here, making it the most fruitful of the early hominid sites that have been named a WHS. The skull and bone pieces have been discovered by both archeologists and locals in quite a large area. This whole area (56 square km) has been designated a WHS.
Visit October 2009
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The entrance gate, car park and souvenir stalls are worthy of a monument à la the Taj Mahal. Sangiran clearly is proud of its WHS status. I arrived by taxi from Solo train station (18km). The station has 5 trains a day to Yogyakarta, so it's a good day trip from there. The Sangiran site consists of a museum, a huge building with a creative layout. However, there are only two exhibition rooms containing skulls, bones and tools.
Sangiran’s story is that of “Java Man", discovered in the fields here in the 1930’s. It is part of the species Homo erectus, one in the chain of predecessors to the modern homo sapiens. At about 700,000 - 1,600,000 years old it is the oldest finding in Asia, but a lot younger than the African examples of early hominids. The site is also known for its animal fossils and neolithic stone tools.
I’ve seen a number of Early Hominid WHS now, and they all struggle to turn their historical fame into a good visiting experience. Sangiran unfortunately is no exception to this. I guess it’s best to tick it off quickly, and spend the remaining part of the day in nearby Solo. This is a relaxed Javan town with two Royal Palaces and a couple of nice little restaurants.
Reviews
Elisabeth Fransisca Situmorang (Indonesia):
 Quite a dissapointing site!
If I didnt insist to see the sites, the visitors could only see the museum which consist of only several bones and replica which is not very well maintained.
I'm very sad to see how this appointed WHS could be treated like it's taken for granted!
Yet the journey to the sites is great (although they're not well maintained as well)... thank God for my tour guide, so I know the stories of the excavations... and it's like the closest thing I've ever got to what Indiana Jones did :-) |
| Date posted: August 2008 |
():
my name is Beta
i came from indonesia
im sory if my english language is not good enough
i'll tell you bout sangiran with my indonesia language
sangiran itu keren banget!!!
banyak tulang-tulang and foto-foto sama pithecantropus seru banget!!!!!!!!!!!!
so dont doubt to go to sangiran
oke!! |
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