Challenges in conserving bahal temples of Sriwijaya Kingdom, in North Sumatra

Abstract

The archaeological sites of the Sriwijaya temple in Sumatra is an important part of a long histories of Indonesian civilization.This article examines the conservation of the Bahal temples as cultural heritage buildings that still maintains the authenticity of the form as a sacred building and can be used as a tourism object. The temples are made of bricks which are very vulnerable to the weather, open environment and visitors so that they can be a threat to the architecture and structure of the temples. Intervention is still possible if it is related to the structure and material conditions of the temples which have been alarming and predicted to cause damage and durability of the temple. This study used a case study method covering Bahal I, II and III temples, all of which are located in North Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra Province through observation, measurement, photograph, drawing, and interview. The three temples have similar architectural styles, structures and building details so that the reconstructive actions are also not much different. The findings of this study are the use of other types of material besides bricks and the use of different bricks to maintain the strength of the structure and shape of the building. Cultural heritage objects must be considered as shared property and become the joint responsibility of all stakeholders.