Ancient site · Monument
Kutai yūpa inscriptions
Also known as Muara Kaman, Mulavarman inscriptions
Near Muara Kaman on the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Borneo, seven stone pillars called yūpa were found carved with Sanskrit verses in an early Pallava script. They praise Mulavarman, a king of Kutai, his father and grandfather, and record lavish gifts to Brahmin priests after sacrifices.
Dated by their script to the second half of the 4th century CE, they are the oldest known inscriptions in Indonesia and show an Indian-influenced kingdom there before 400 CE. The pillars are now in the National Museum in Jakarta.
- Dates
- second half of the 4th century CE
- Still standing
- No, or only traces
- Location
- 0.16° S, 116.72° E
How we know
The stone pillars carry Sanskrit inscriptions naming King Mulavarman, dated by the style of their script.
Nearby sites
- Manunggul Cave (Tabon Caves) Manunggul Jar c. 890–710 BCE
- Óc Eo c. 2nd century BCE – 7th century CE
- Murujuga rock art engravings from c. 45,000 years ago onward
- Ban Chiang c. 2000 or 1500 BCE – c. 200 CE (start date disputed)
- Đông Sơn c. 1000 BCE – 1st century CE (culture)
- Plain of Jars jars placed perhaps c. 1240–660 BCE; burials at Site 1 8th–13th centuries CE