History of the Department of Archaeology

The Department of Archaeology as one of the academic sections within the Faculty of Arts UGM was officially opened in the 1962/1963 academic year as a development of the Ancient Indonesian History sub-department. At the time of opening, this section was named the Department of Antiquities with 43 students. In addition to accepting new students, the Department of Antiquities also accepted undergraduate students from the Department of Indonesian Literature and the Department of History both from Gadjah Mada University and other universities. At that time, lecturers in this department were very limited and had to bring in several lecturers from outside the city such as Drs. R. Soekmono, Drs. M. Boechari, Drs. R.P. Soejono, and Drs. Uka Tjandrasasmita.

In its development, the department experienced ups and downs, and was even closed in 1966. The closure was due to the lack of funds to bring in outside teaching staff who generally gave lectures at the undergraduate level. On the other hand, some of the graduates continued their studies in other departments at the Faculty of Literature and Culture UGM and UI and some did not continue their studies because they were already working. After the department was reopened – and renamed the Department of Archaeology in 1967, only a few of the Bachelor graduates continued their studies.

The development of the department reached an important milestone in the mid-1980s with the arrival of a visiting lecturer from the Ford Foundation, Dr. John N. Miksic. Several new courses were developed, such as museology, environmental archaeology, and ethnoarchaeology, as well as centers of ancient civilizations. Some of the staff continued their education to achieve master’s and doctoral degrees, both at home and abroad. This has influenced the development of the department, both academically and institutionally.

In 2001, the Archaeology Postgraduate Study Program (S2) was opened which is based on the UGM Postgraduate Program (Graduate School). By developing a concentration / interest in Archaeological Resource Management, the study program brings in lecturers from various disciplines to enrich the abilities of graduate students, such as Prof. Dr. R.P. Soejono (Arkenas Research Center), Prof. Ir. Eko Budihardjo, M.Sc. (Undip Architecture), Prof. Dr. Dra. M.G. Endang Sumiarni, S.H., M.H. (Atmajaya University Law), and Prof. Dr. Wiendu Nuryanti, M.Arch. (Architecture UGM). The management of the monodisciplinary postgraduate program was released from the UGM Graduate School (d.h. Postgraduate Program), to be handled directly by the Department, in 2008.

Two years later, the department was developed by opening the main interest in museology, both in the undergraduate (S1) and postgraduate (S2) programs. This program is in collaboration with Tropenmuseum and Reinwardt Academie in Amsterdam. For five years, lecturers from the Netherlands taught graduate courses together with lecturers from the Department of Archaeology. The Dutch teachers included Pim Westerkamp, Itie van Hout, Ruben Smit, Ben Meulenbeld, Alex Lucius Stipriaan, Martijn de Ruijter, and Mirjam Shatanavi.

In 2006, there was a reorganization at UGM. The Department of Archaeology became the Department of Archaeology and oversees two study programs, namely the Bachelor of Archaeology Study Program and the Master of Archaeology Study Program. In addition, together with other Departments, it has managed the S1 Tourism Study Program since 2010.

In addition to the external lecturers mentioned above, several other lecturers have also been invited to teach certain courses, such as from SPSP Central Java, Drs. I Gusti Ngurah Anom (teaching restoration) and Dra. Zaimul Azzah (Islamic archaeology); from the Yogyakarta Archaeology Center, Drs. M.M.. Sukarto K. Atmodjo (epigraphy), Dra. Novida Abbas (Islamic archaeology), Drs. Bugie Mh. Kusumohartono (environmental archaeology), and Drs. Gunadi Nitihaminoto. From SPSP Yogyakarta there are Drs. Th. Aq. Sunarto (teaching restoration), and from BPSMP Sangiran there is Dr. Harry Widiyanto (teaching paleoanthropology).

Meanwhile, from UGM there are Prof. Dr. Ir. Parmono Atmadi and Ir. Ismudiyanto Ismail (Architecture Engineering, teaching courses on architecture), Prof. Dr. Sutikno, Drs. Jomulyo, Drs. Yusron Halim, Drs. Eko Haryono, M.Si., and Drs. Junun Saptohadi (Faculty of Geography, teaching geomorphology, stratigraphy, or cartography), Ir. Sutoto, S.U. and Ir. Mulyadi (Geological Engineering, teaching basic geology), Dr. Ir. Yutono (Faculty of Agriculture, teaching conservation), and Abdul Ghofar, S.H. (Faculty of Law, teaching about Islamic law). From Paleoanthropology, Faculty of Medicine UGM had (and some are still) teaching Prof. Dr. T. Jacob, M.S., M.D., dr. Agus Supriyo, dr. Budi Sampurno), Prof. Dr. drg. Etty Indriati, and Drs. Rusyad Adi Suriyanto who teach paleoanthropology or physical anthropology.

Permanent lecturers who have retired:

1. Drs. Soediman

2. Drs. Kusen | History & Works

3. Drs. Ph. Subroto, M.Sc.

4. Dr. Riboet Darmosoetopo

5. Prof. Dr. Timbul Haryono, M.Sc.

6. Drs. Slamet Pinardi, M.A.

7. Prof. Dr. Sumijati Atmosudiro

8. Prof. Dr. Inajati Adrisijanti | History & Works

9. Dr. Djoko Dwiyanto, M.Hum. (2018) | History & Works

10. Dra. Djaliati Sri Nugrahani, M.A. (2024) | History & Works

11. Dr. Daud Aris Tanudirjo, M.A. (2024)