Jakarta (ANTARA) – PT Semen Indonesia (SIG) was commended at the SPAFA International Conference on Southeast Asian Archaeology and Fine Arts (SPAFACON) 2024 for the conservation of archaeological and cultural heritage in Bulu Sipong IV, Pangkep, South Sulawesi.
According to a statement from the Jakarta SIG on Saturday, SPAFACON is an international forum for sharing and updating archaeological knowledge in Southeast Asia. The annual program was held from June 10 to 14, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.
“SIG is an example of a few companies that are playing an active role in archaeological site conservation efforts,” said Noel Hidalgo Tan, senior archaeology specialist and head of the SPAFACON organizing team.
“We hope SIG’s actions can be emulated by other companies in Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region,” he added.
Tan stressed that SIG, as a company, has demonstrated a strong commitment to the conservation of archaeological sites and cultural heritage in the Southeast Asian region.
This is evidenced by the publication of the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) document for the prehistoric site of Bulu Sipong IV.
Meanwhile, Yadi Mulyadi, an academic from Hasanuddin University (Unhas), said that the Maros-Pangkep Karst in South Sulawesi is home to a plethora of rock art sites known as the oldest rock paintings in the world.
The karst tower is home to many natural dwellings or shelters made of rocks bearing images of animals and humans dating back more than 40,000 years.
The surrounding area is also home to sites containing ancient stone tools.
Based on the research results, it was discovered that several of these prehistoric sites were located within clay mining concessions managed by SIG’s subsidiary, PT Semen Tonasa.
The research was conducted by PT Semen Tonasa, the South Sulawesi Cultural Heritage Conservation Center (now the Region XIX Cultural Conservation Center) and the Maros-Pangkep Geopark Management Agency in 2018.
On the same occasion, SIG’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability Office Johannad Daunan explained that based on SIG’s recommendations, Semen Tonasa had designated 31.64 hectares, or 11.3 percent of the total mining area of 280 hectares in Bulu Sipong, as a conservation area.
Semen Tonasa actively collaborates with the Cultural Preservation Center of Region XIX in the management of Bulu Sipong.
Efforts to manage Bulu Sipong include regular monitoring of vibrations and ambient air by a third party.
As a result, the vibration value is maintained below the national standards for cultural heritage buildings as well as the ambient air quality around the site which is also maintained according to the standards of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
The company also completed 1,800 metres of road pouring and regular watering of the mine road to reduce dust, in addition to disseminating information to employees and local community members on the importance of preserving prehistoric sites to ensure site safety.
The company installed signs and restricted access by installing a 1,900-metre-long fence and revegetated the conservation area.
The CHMP document will serve as a guide for the management of cultural heritage owned by the company, including Bulu Sipong, which is a cultural heritage site, to ensure sustainable management while taking into account existing cultural values.
The CHMP document was determined from a series of desk research findings, focus group discussions and field observations involving the Maros-Pangkep UNESCO Global Geopark Management Agency and the Hasanuddin University Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM).
Others involved in the process of determining the document were the Cultural Preservation Center of Region XIX (BPK) and experts in archaeology, anthropology, geology, biodiversity and tourism, as well as various other stakeholders.
A series of focus group discussions were conducted with the community to delve deeper into the archaeological and historical potential of the Semen Tonasa concession area as well as the company’s future development plans.
“SIG hopes that the Bulu Sipong site can become a means of education and help promote history and culture to the wider community,” said Vita Mahreyni, SIG secretary general.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
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