Volcanic Disaster and the Decline of Mataram Kingdom in the Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

In the area of Central Java and Yogyakarta there are several volcanoes namely Sindoro volcano, Sumbing volcano, Slamet volcano, Ungaran volcano, Merbabu volcano, and Merapi volcano. Among the volcanoes, Merapi volcano is the most active, generating lava flows, pyroclastic flows, glowing clouds, and lahar. On the other hand, during the 7th to 10th century in this region had been existed an ancient monarchy, known as the Mataram Kingdom. Its glory at that time was marked by many ancient heritages especially in the form of temples. There are many monumental, beautiful, and majestic archaeological relics, located on the plains, slopes, even near the summit of Merapi volcano, Sumbing volcano, Sindoro volcano, Dieng mountains, and Ungaran volcano.

In the 11th century the history of Mataram Kingdom was not recorded anymore, suspected that the kingdom declined, and the cultural center of excellence transferred to East Java. Up to now, the cause of the collapse of Mataram Kingdom is still a mystery. Some historians suspect as a result of a great war, and some others thought as the impact of volcanic disaster. Nevertheless, the fall of Mataram Kingdom still being an enigma.

At the southern slopes of Merapi volcano, there are some ancient buildings that buried by volcanic deposits. For example Kadisoka temple part of the building is still dotted sandstone, tuff, and pyroclastic sandstone, cobbles. Similarly, Sambisari, Kedulan, and Pustakasala temples, when discovered, they were sinked by sand, tuff, and fluvio-volcanic sediments. On the slopes of Sindoro volcano, there are also ancient sites, namely Liyangan was covered by pyroclastic flow, tuff, and lahar deposits. Thus it is possible that volcanic disasters have contributed to the decline of Mataram Kingdom.