Indonesia to date Meratus cave art in Australia's lab tests

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - South Kalimantan's Regional Research and Innovation Agency (Brida) and Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) will study archaeological sites in the Meratus region, including dating prehistoric cave paintings through laboratory testing planned in Australia.

Brida head Thaufik Hidayat said on Wednesday that the research would focus on cataloging, identifying, and documenting artifacts and other archaeological remains to strengthen the scientific record of the Meratus Geopark's history.

"We are prioritizing chronological testing of the prehistoric paintings at Liang Bangkai Cave in Tanah Bumbu District to determine the age of the artifacts through joint research with BRIN experts, with laboratory testing planned in Australia," Thaufik said.

Besides Liang Bangkai Cave, Brida is also studying the archaeological site on Sirang Island in Banjar District to expand knowledge of prehistoric human settlement and complete the inventory of South Kalimantan's archaeological heritage.

The findings are expected to provide more comprehensive data on the history of human settlement and cultural development in the Meratus region, serving as a reference for future research and archaeological conservation, Thaufik said.

In the cultural sector, Brida is also preparing research to catalog, identify, and document the diversity of sasirangan textile motifs in Banjarmasin's Traditional Sasirangan Village to strengthen the region's cultural heritage database.

The agency also plans research on plants producing natural dyes for sasirangan textiles in Balangan Village, Banjar District, providing a scientific basis for using local biological resources while supporting the sustainable preservation of the traditional fabric.

The studies reflect Brida's commitment to strengthening archaeological, cultural, and biodiversity research in South Kalimantan to support evidence-based policymaking, preserve regional heritage, and advance scientific knowledge, Thaufik said.

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Translator: Tumpal AA, Rahmad Nasution

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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