Minto Stone

The Minto Stone, known in Indonesia as Prasasti Sanggurah, is a 3 long tons (3.0 t), 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall stone tablet originally found in Malang, East Java province. In 1812, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then lieutenant-governor of the island of Java, gave it as a token of appreciation to his superior, then British Governor General of India, Lord Minto. It consequently became part of the Minto family estate near Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland.

The carved stone bears an ancient inscription dated 982 AD and the name of a Javanese king, Sri Maharaja Rakai Pangkaja Dyah Wawa Sri Wijayalokanamottungga, who at that time ruled the Malang area. According to Indonesian historians, the stone is an important artifact and a crucial source of information. It contains elements about the Mataram Kingdom in Central Java and the shift of power that consequently took place to East Java.

Sri Maharaja Rakai Pangkaja Dyah Wawa Sri Wijayalokanamottungga is better known in Indonesia as Dyah Wawa (r. 924—929). He was the last ruler of Mataram. His successor, Mpu Sindok (r. 929—947), moved the court from Central Java to East Java in 929. The reasons for this move are still unclear.

Sources

• "Javanese demand repatriation of Minto's stone of contention". The Southern Reporter. 6 February 2008. http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/local-headlines/javanese_demand_repatriation_of_minto_s_stone_of_contention_1_98555. Retrieved 2011-02-28. 
• "Indonesia demands historic stone back". The Scotsman. 4 February 2008. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Indonesia-demands-historic-stone-back.3739523.jp. Retrieved 2011-02-28. 
• "Ancient relic to return from Scotland". The Jakarta Post. 25 January 2008. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/01/24/ancient-relic-return-scotland.html. Retrieved 2011-02-28. 

Further reading

• Bastin, J., "Colonel Colin Mackenzie and Javanese antiquities", in Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, 109 (1953), no: 3, Leiden, pp. 273-275