There is a museum that was built in 2001 in Tambaksari hamlet, Tambaksari subdistrict, Ciamis district, West Java province. The locals called it, Tambaksari Museum but there is also a call Tambaksari Ancient Man Museum. The location of the building is approximately 75 kilometers from central government or the Ciamis District or approximately 150 kilometers east of Bandung, the capital of West Java province.
 |
| Tambaksari Museum. (Picture from: http://www.disparbud.jabarprov.go.id/) |
In addition to the origins of early man in Java, especially in West Java, where it is stored some evidence of ancient plant and animal fossils. Tambaksari site area consists of several villages in the Tambaksari and Rancah subdistrict, Ciamis District with an area of about 961.369 hectares.
In the region there is a quarter of geological relics from the middle Pliocene era, or about 2 million years ago. Its geographical conditions are undulating hills with varied slope, a partly valley through by Cijolang river with several tributaries like Cihonje, Cipasang, Cisanca, Cibatu, Cisontrol, and Cibeureum.
 |
| Fossils of ancient elephant (stegodons sp.) jaw and teeth. (Picture from: http://www.disparbud.jabarprov.go.id/) |
As said by the manager of the museum, Carkim (37), the establishment of the museum originated from fossil findings in this area. As it has been known that Tambaksari considered the potential discovery of human fossils and ancient animals, especially in Urugkasang and its surrounding area." To save and store finding these fossils, Ciamis District Government and the Provincial Government of West Java build a museum," he said, on Friday, December 27, 2013.
 |
| Fossil of an ancient deer (ceruus sp.) leg. (Picture from: http://www.disparbud.jabarprov.go.id/) |
Kikim told, attention to the Tambaksari region starting when in 1920, J Van Houten discovered fossils of vertebrate animals in the northeast Rancah. Subsequent research conducted in 1931 by Van Es, then Von Koenigswald (1934) and Hetzel (1935).
 |
| Fossils of ancient elephant (stegodons sp.) leg. (Picture from: http://www.disparbud.jabarprov.go.id/) |
Furthermore, in 1987 the locals was shocked by the discovery of huge fossilized teeth of ancient animals that lived 1-2 million years ago. The discovery was accidental and not by arkelolog or researcher, but by Tambaksari Junior High (SMP Tambaksari) students. When they were subjects of biology field studies, the introduction of soil types led by his teacher, Darwa.
"When students are invited attention to the strange stones scattered in the region. Needless intentional disciple found the fossilized teeth of which are believed to be ancient animal teeth. Findings were then collected in the school laboratory," said Kikim.
After the discovery, the locals do a search of fossils. Most of the residents in Tambaksari find ancient fossils. However, only some are handed over to the museum. "There are many ancient fossils controlled by residents. Compared to the one in the museum, more fossils that exist in people," he said further.
Kikim explained, the Tambaksari site area is basin sedimentation known as Cijolang basin. From several studies, vertebrate animal fossils found in the River Cijolang showed distinct fauna. Its fossils including Merycopotamus nanus bookmark, which hipopotamus sp. (an ancient hippos), ceruus sp. (an ancient deer), and stegodons sp. (an ancient elephant) and bovid sp. (an ancient cattle).
In addition, we found several fossils like molae biv Alvia (an ancient oyster shell), carvace (an ancient turtle shell), ancient crocodiles, and ancient rhinos. "The fossils were found at several sites such as Urugkasang, Cisanca, Cicalincing, Cibabut, Cihonje, Ciloa, Cibabut, and Cipasang," he said.
The most spectacular findings are the incisors fossil of Pithecanthropus erectus in 1999. The early humans were thought to have lived about 800,000 years ago. Fossils were found by the researchers team of Bandung Institute of Archaeology (Balai Arkeologi Bandung), STTNas Yogyakarta, Bandung Quaternary Geology Laboratory (Laboratorium Geologi Kuarter P3G Bandung), University of Tennessee and Alabama University, United States, at that time they were doing excavation on Cisanca cliff at Cikaso village to a depth of 7 meters and produces 5 layers.
In the 4th layer, found fragments of artifacts made of obsidian. While in the 5th layer, discovered ancient human incisors became the first discovery in West Java. Relatively older age compared to those found in Central Java and East Java.
Kikim also explained, the results of analysis of pollens example on sandy clay stone, taken in the vicinity of ancient human incisors findings, the researchers concluded Tambaksari and Rancah area once used as shelter early humans and ancient animals in West Java," he said. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ECEP SUKIRMAN | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 02012014]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
