Kethek temple is located in Gumeng village, Jenawi sub district, Karanganyar regency, Central Java Province on the north east side of Cetho Temple (300 meters from Cetho Temple). The name of Kethek (monkey) is given by local people because they often see monkeys in this site.
Period of the monument can be known by comparing statues and terraces of the temple which are similar with other temples on the west slope of Mount. Lawu. Kethek temple is predicted has the same age with Cetho, Planggatan and Sukuh temple which were established in XI-XVI century.
Kethek temple faces to the west consisting four multilevel terraces. Each terrace is connected by stairs. A turtle statue is located at the lowest stairs on the first terrace. A stone structure stands in the north east side of this terrace. There are two stone structures on the second and third terraces. These structures are located on the north and south sides. Fourth terrace or the highest terrace is the most sacred place where the main building stand.
The finding of a turtle statue can reveal the religious background of Kethek Temple. The statue has a strong connection with Hindu Mythology, Samudramanthana, the stunning of the ocean of milk to search the amrtha (the water of life). This finding can also reveal the function of the temple as a place for the sin liberation.
Archaelogical Site Office of Central Java in collaboration with Gadjah Mada University in 2005 conducted excavation rescue in Kethek temple. This excavation was focus on some buried structures and temple boundaries to reveal the archaeological data such as history, religious and architecture aspects of the monument.
