The second Indonesian Integrated Archaeology Research was conducted on 16-29 September at Trowulan, East Java. This program is a direct continuation of PATI I (2008), coordinated by FIB UI. Both programs were joined by 4 public universities with archaeology department: Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), University of Indonesia (UI) and Udayana University (UNUD).
The theme of PATI II is “Water and Cosmology of the Majapahit Site”. To dig deeper into the research question, the team conduction excavations in 5 sites: Nglinuk SIte, Segaran Site, Sumur Upas Site, Paras Kanal Six-Cornered Floor Site, Cancangan Gajah Site. The researched showed that the site presumed to be ex-Royal Palace already possessed a structured water distribution, from the center of the palace, its highest point, to outside the palace premises, where citizens live. The concept of water for Hindu-based Majapahit people is incredibly important since the king was considered to be a godly manifestation, thus the water “used by” them are considered sacred and highly beneficial.
PATI II was supported by 80 students and 20 lecturers, alongside 20 high school students from SMKN 1 Trowulan and their teacher. Involving communities in PATI I was a form of Public Archaeology, and was a novelty in archaeological practice in Indonesia. This program gave local communities access and encouraged their involvement towards research.
