Pengaruh Variabel Bentanglahan terhadap Persebaran Candi Hindu di Wilayah Selatan Gunung Kelud, Blitar, Jawa Timur

Abstract

There are a large number of Hindu temples from the Kadiri, Singhasari and Majapahit periods in the southern region of Kelud Volcano. However, archaeological research in this region, especially in Blitar, has never addressed the overall configuration of the temples' locations and their relationship to the physical landscape. This research attempts to fill this gap by applying an archaeological landscape approach to investigate how elements of the southern Kelud landscape, such as landform, land cover, and hydrology, have affected the distribution of temple sites in the region. Data were collected through field surveys as well as literature and map studies. This research shows that in the 10th to 16th century the majority of the Hindu temples were built in the high potential area for human life with fertile lands and not far from water resources. Fewer temples were built in areas with mediocre potential, while the least potential areas were not prioritized for temple sites. The area occupied by most temples would have the prospect of supporting human living needs and also meet the general requirements for selecting temple sites.

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Wilayah selatan Gunung Kelud mempunyai banyak candi Hindu dari zaman Kadiri, Singhasari, dan Majapahit. Namun demikian, selama ini penelitian arkeologi wilayah ini, terutama Blitar, masih belum membahas candi-candi secara menyeluruh sebagai himpunan, begitupun hubungannya dengan kondisi bentanglahan hampir tidak pernah dikaji. Penelitian ini menerapkan pendekatan arkeologi bentanglahan untuk meninjau bagaimana bentanglahan wilayah selatan Gunung Kelud, sebagaimana tercermin dari variabel bentuklahan, tutupan lahan, dan hidrologinya, memengaruhi persebaran candi di sana. Teknik pengumpulan data berupa survei lapangan, studi peta, dan studi pustaka. Pengolahan dan analisis data didukung oleh perangkat lunak sistem informasi geografis. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan bahwa masyarakat kuno di wilayah selatan Gunung Kelud pada umumnya menempatkan candi di wilayah berpotensi besar mendukung kehidupan manusia, sebaliknya mendirikan lebih sedikit candi di wilayah yang potensinya lebih kecil. Daerah yang potensinya sangat terbatas kurang diprioritaskan untuk pendirian candi. Potensi wilayah yang ditempati mayoritas candi mendukung kebutuhan hidup masyarakat dan memenuhi syarat umum pemilihan lahan kuil, yaitu lahannya subur dan dekat sumber daya air.