Indonesia, Georgia Host "Prehistoric Heritage" Exhibition, Displaying Dmanisi's Artifacts

JAKARTA, Oct 25 (Antara) - Indonesia and Georgia co-hosted the first ever "Prehistoric Heritage" exhibition here on Tuesday, displaying some artifacts excavated from the Dminisi archeological site. "As part of our joint efforts to strengthening the cultural diplomatic relations between two countries, the exhibition features five skulls and some mandibles excavated from our prehistoric site in Dmanisi," the Ambassador of Georgia to Indonesia, Zurab Aleksidze said during the event at National Museum in Jakarta, Tuesday. According to Aleksidze, the exhibition highlighted the commonality between two countries. "These Dmanasi's five Homo Erectus artifacts were excavated in 1991, 100 years after Dubois first found a similar fossil on 1881 in Sangiran archeological site, Indonesia. Knowing the fact, we understand, the prehistoric heritage may serve as instruments that improve the cultural diplomacy of the two countries," the ambassador remarked. Aleksidze who was assisted by the Georgian National Museum Director, David Lordkipanidze, further explained, Dmanisi in Georgia and Sangiran in Indonesia have served as two important archeological sites for human evolution studies. "The idea of having this exhibition is highly important. It has a large opportunity to support a further research on human evolution," he noted. On similar occasion, the Georgian museum director who is also an expert in paleo-anthropology, Lordkipanidze said the exhibition was part of the two countries' effort to maintain collaboration on human evolution studies. "Hence, in order to build actions on improving the subject, it is very important for us to have a clear understanding on human evolution," Lordkipanidze remarked. Meanwhile, the Education and Culture Ministry's director general Hilmar Farid said, the exhibition has played an important role to providing platform for exchanging information between two countries. "The idea is to make something real. This exhibition is part of an effort to exchange information from the archeological point of view, because now experts have come here (to Indonesia), and several items from Dmanisi (in Georgia) were displayed," Farid stated. He further said, the two countries are committed to continuing the endeavour, while seeking for more possibilities for a further project. "I personally plan to visit the (Dmanisi) archeological site, and later we will discuss the further details of some joint projects between two countries," he reiterated. "We really hope, the exhibition would become an important ingredient to the ongoing conversation about the paleo-anthropological studies both in Indonesia and Georgia," Farid remarked. On the sideline of the event, the director general also said, the Indonesian government has planned to establish a center for human evolution studies in Southeast Asia. "We are now developing a center for human evolution, adaptation, and dispersal studies in Southeast Asia. This center would serve as a platform of research, and other scientific activities on the subject," he noted.