| Abstract: |
Archaeology has played a major role in Indonesia recently, due to globalization and cultural tourism, especially since the demise of the New Order and the introduction of the Reformation period which from 2001 has stressed policies for regional autonomy and greater authority to local governments to maintain their rich local cultures. However, there are still many questions on how, since every region has its own cultural heritage resulting from its history. Western Indonesia was greatly influenced by Hindu and Islamic values while the east has given more scope for Christian influences. This does not mean that there was no local culture before the coming of Hinduism, Islam or Christianity. Therefore, how do the local people and governments maintain their cultural heritage allowing for all the influences? That is: How much of the archaeological evidence can still be seen? What issues have emerged? And how do local governments and people use their cultural heritage to enhance their prosperity? These are the main questions that must be addressed in this paper for a better understanding of the recent archaeological developments in Indonesia.
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