The UGM Archaeologist Team held a “Mejan Milik Kita” Workshop on Monday, July 15, 2024 at Balai Sada Arih, SINDEKA Complex. This workshop discussed topics related to the conservation of mejan findings that are widely owned by Pakpak Bharat Regency and also discussed related to community-based cultural heritage preservation. Pakpak Bharat is one of the regions in North Sumatra Province that has many potentials, such as natural, cultural, and archaeological potentials. The UGM Archaeologist Team has conducted research to determine the distribution of archaeological potential in the form of mejan in Pagindar District and several other areas around Salak District. This research is a follow-up research to the previous research conducted in 2023. The interesting thing that was done in this research was targeting the potential of nature to become a leading tourist destination in Pakpak Bharat Regency in addition to digging deeper related to archaeological remains in the form of mejan.
UGM Archaeologist Team Coordinator, Mimi Savitri, M. A., Ph. D., said that “Pakpak Bharat, especially Pagindar Sub-district which yesterday became the object of research, has the potential of an extraordinarily interesting area to be developed in the future, ranging from archaeological remains to natural potential”. On this occasion, representatives of the district government represented by the Regional Secretary, Jalan Berutu, S.Pd., M. M. warmly welcomed and gave full support to the running of research in the Pakpak Bharat area. He also said “Great appreciation for the cooperation between the Pakpak Bharat Regency Government and Gadjah Mada University so that hopefully this will be the first step that can be used as a basis for the promotion and development of the Pakpak Bharat region,” he added.
In this workshop activity, 2 resource persons were presented, namely Dr. Mahirta, M. A who is a lecturer in the Archaeology Study Program at Gadjah Mada University, where in his presentation he discussed stone conservation. This material aims to provide knowledge to the wider community in Pakpak Bharat Regency represented by attendees from various circles ranging from school students, teachers, village heads, sub-district heads, traditional leaders, and representatives of community institutions engaged in cultural development. Of course, understanding related to stone conservation is a provision that must be owned by every element of society, given the many potentials in the form of mejans scattered throughout the Pakpak Bharat region. Then, the second speaker, Mimi Savitri, M. A. Ph. D. explained the topic related to the preservation of community-based cultural heritage so that in this case it emphasizes good cooperation in the community for the sake of preserving the cultural heritage owned. She said that, “The community is at the forefront and closest around the object of cultural heritage, so it is necessary to have knowledge related to the preservation of cultural heritage and good cooperation in it so that the value of the object is not lost, and the existing heritage can survive for future generations”.
The workshop went well because of the active participation of the participants in conveying their ideas. One of them came from a high school student representative named Sodik who said that, “As a young generation, we should love and have a sense of pride in our cultural heritage so that it can prevent our culture from being claimed by others”. In addition, issues related to the preservation and development of cultural heritage were also raised. One of them was conveyed by Budi Rasmianto Berutu, S. T., M. AP., as a representative of the regional cultural institution, “The potential possessed by Pakpak Bharat, especially the Pagindar area, is an extraordinary asset. However, we need an easy access road so that tourists will easily reach the Pagindar area. In addition, we also want assistance for tourism publications in the form of promotions on social media and in the form of booklets so that when there are tourists who will come to Pakpak Bharat, it will be easy to know what tourist destinations can be visited according to their interests.” The audience also agreed with what was said. Furthermore, there were many inputs from the stakeholders present, where knowledge related to mejan also needs to be given to school materials so that it can foster a sense of love and belonging to the cultural heritage owned by the region.
This activity was closed with the delivery of conclusions by Plt. Head of Pakpak Bharat Tourism and Culture Office, Maranatha M. Padang, S. Pd., M. Si., “Once again, I greatly appreciate the research that has been carried out by the UGM Archaeology Team and to the attendees who have attended this opportunity. Hopefully, what is obtained today can be conveyed to the wider community so that the existing knowledge can be known to more people. I hope that cooperation can be maintained among the community in maintaining and preserving the culture that we have so that the cultural heritage in Pakpak Bharat will continue to be sustainable, Lias Ate, Njuah – Njuah Banta Karina “.
Author: Resti Wulandari, S. Ark.
