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Surakarta's ancient bunker is a potential tourist destination
Excavation of a bunker in the Surakarta City Hall complex in Central Java recommenced on Nov. 8 after the first attempt was halted last year due to funding.
The bunker was found in August 2012 and a joint team comprising representatives from the Surakarta Municipal Spatial Planning Agency, the Central Java Prehistoric Legacy Conservation Center (BP3) and the Yogyakarta Archeological Center unearth the bunker.
Now, based on the second excavation, more of the bunker is gradually beginning to appear, including a staircase leading down to its entrance.
So far two rooms have been found at the 15 x 7 meter bunker: at the south and north corner. A pentagon-shaped foundation was also unearthed.
According to the Cultural Conservation Association of Central Java spokesperson Gutomo, the bunker could be from the 19th century.
"We suspect it was a temporary shelter for the Dutch to hide from attack during the colonial era," said Gutomo.
He added that the City Hall office used to be an office during the reign of Herman Willem Daendels (1808-1811).
“We estimate that the bunker was built around 1890 when General Daendels first ruled Surakarta [also known as Solo]. From the historical study, we can also associate this finding with the Fort Vastenburg's construction which was also located near the City Hall complex,” he said.
According to Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo, who also monitored the excavation, the bunker could be transformed into a public service office or a tourist destination.
"We will be able to determine the bunker's future as soon as the excavation and research processes are finished. But it will be unlikely to turn it into a public space because of its location inside the City Hall complex," said Hadi.
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