Millstones from 18th century found in East Jakarta

Firefighters from the East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department along with teams from Bina Marga DKI Jakarta and the Jakarta Culture Agency evacuated a milestone found on a sidewalk in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta. The item is suspected to be a cultural heritage object from the 18th century. 

According to Head of the Jakarta Culture Agency Iwan Henry Wardhana, the millstone was immediately taken to the Condet Cultural Center. “This is our effort to protect and rescue the object. Sidewalks are prone to damage, either due to weather or acts of vandalism," said Iwan in a written statement. 

Iwan added that similar millstones were also found in other areas in East Jakarta, namely in Gedong, Pasar Rebo and Penggilingan, Cakung. In Penggilingan, five millstones were found. 

“One of the millstones was taken to and conserved in the Jakarta History Museum,” Iwan explained. 

According to sources, such millstones were tools used in the sugar industry back in the 17th and 18th centuries, where Batavia was considered as the main exporter of sugar to China and Japan.