of Borobudur, which was eventually completed in 1983. Other significant long-term projects were conducted in Trowulan, East Java, between 1976 and 1990 (fifteen years), and Banten Lama, West Java (1976–1985).

In the research strategy adopted for Trowulan, the center carried out a surface survey of an area 10 kilometers by 10 kilometers. The center’s historical archaeologists then conducted excavations in several sectors: the Pendopo Agung (“Great Pavilion”), Pandan Sili, Klinterejo, Sentonorejo, Nglinguk, Sumurupas, Kejagan, Kedaton, Batok Palung, Wringin Lawang, and Blendren. Large quantities of artifacts were recovered, along with data on architecture, including nonreligious buildings. This site, the probable capital of the kingdom of Majapahit (thirteenth to sixteenth centuries) has been identified as the largest precolonial urban site in Indonesia.

Research has also been conducted sporadically in Sumatra. A branch office of the center has finally been established in Palembang, south Sumatra, and data are gradually accumulating on the kingdom of Srivijaya that was based there during the seventh to eleventh centuries (Manguin 1992), as well as later periods during which the site continued to be occupied. Other sites, including a trading post of the eleventh to thirteenth centuries at Kota Cina, north Sumatra, and a large complex of monuments at Muara Jambi of approximately the same period have also been investigated.

Research at the site of Banten Lama in West Java began in 1976 and continued for ten years. Banten continues the urban history of Indonesia from Trowulan, late classic period, into the early Islamic era. Excavation and survey here has succeeded in identifying units of activity within the site, including residential and occupational zones.

At all these sites, the work of analysis continues long after the excavations have been completed. Urban archaeology in Indonesia has made a promising beginning. Systematic surveys using standard sampling techniques are now employed, and there is reason to expect that the history of early complex society in Indonesia may soon become clearer.

Epigraphy, one of Indonesian archaeology’s oldest subdisciplines, has contributed some important new information despite the small number of specialists in the field. Boechari, before his untimely death, contributed important new readings of Sumatran and Javanese inscriptions, as has Sukarto Kartoatmojo. J.G. de Casparis continues to add to his astounding output of valuable translations in a multitude of languages and scripts, facilitated by his incomparable experience in both South and Southeast Asia. In addition to new information provided by reading inscriptions discovered before 1957, new inscriptions continue to be found. One of the most important is the Wanua Tengah III inscription of a.d. 908. Discovered in November 1983 in Temanggung, Central Java, the find consists of two copper plates issued by King Balitung. The plates give a king list, the second of whom is said to have taken the throne in a.d. 746.

In the realm of spectacular discoveries, the Wonoboyo Hoard must assume a prominent place. In 1991 in this village near the site of the great Hindu complex of Prambanan, central Java, local residents discovered an enormous deposit of gold items, including coins and various other objects including jewelry and ritual accessories. The weight of gold recovered exceeds 30 kilograms. Although much gold of the Classic period is held in private and museum collections, this is by far the largest and best documented discovery. The fact that the gold was properly reported and delivered safely to the National Museum is an excellent indication of the level of awareness of modern Indonesians regarding the importance of archaeological studies and the pride that most Indonesians feel for their heritage.

John Miksic

Eastern Malaysia and Brunei

Tom Harrisson continued as director of the Sarawak archaeology program for another ten years, having developed a much more ambitious program and a number of well-trained staff. The major program under way was the exploration and excavation of the Niah Caves (Harrisson, T. 1957, 1958, 1959). While he published many papers, very few of these were site reports, and the two that could be so considered were done with Barbara Harrisson (Harrisson and Harrisson 1957; Harrisson, T., 1968). For Niah, Barbara Harrisson(1958, 1965, 1967, 1977a) published more substantive reports than Tom Harrisson.