At the beginning of the Koenigswald study in the 1930s, the fossil was placed by the community as a sacred sign that was used as a medium of medicine, magical and as a fetish. This public perception of fossils was slowly changed by koenigswald through a cultural approach.
This cultural approach was carried out by Koenigswald by inviting a community leader at that time to become his assistant. That person is a familiar toto marsono called mbah Toto. At that time Mbah Toto became a respected person by the community, what was said was a decree and was always followed for the community. Mbah toto was then head of the village of Krikilan, an early village where Sangiran began to be known as a prehistoric site.
Slowly the influence of koenigswald was spread by toto to the public, the knowledge gained from koenigswald was about fossils being spread to the public. The knowledge of Koenigswald about how to type fossils, locations that are rich in fossil findings to the involvement of the community in the research conducted by Koenigswald. The people who got the fossil, by mbah Toto were ordered to hand over to Koenigswald who were then rewarded in the form of money.
The influence of local leaders and also the rewards of money can change people’s perceptions of fossils. The fossil that was known to the public as a balung buto has shifted into a fossil that can be used to get money in return. (Wiwit Hermanto) translated by: Mutiara Sholikah
