A Bottom‑Up Approach to Prehistoric Heritage Conservation: Local Community‑Led Development of the Bumiayu Fossil Site

Muhammad Wildan Fadhlillah*, Sofwan Noerwidi, Thomas Sutikna, Eugine Olafianto D. P. W., Harman Dwi Rachmadhan, and Yves Belgiaswara S.

Bumiayu Sites is one of the most important prehistoric sites in western Central Java, preserving numerous vertebrate fossils and archaeological artefacts within Quaternary sedimentary deposits. This paper examines the role of community‑based conservation in promoting research activities and heritage management at the Bumiayu site. Community participation in cultural heritage preservation in Indonesia is supported by Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage, which mandates public involvement in safeguarding cultural heritage. To support the development of the site, local communities applied the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine priority locations for potential development. The evaluation considered several parameters, including scientific significance, educational value, economic potential, conservation importance, and additional supporting factors. Key locations analysed include the early human fossil discovery site at the Bodas River, the discovery site of Sinomastodon bumiajuensis and the type locality of the Kaliglagah Formation in Kutamendala Village, the artefact concentration site at Aur River, the type locality of the Gintung Formation in Galuhtimur Village, and the excavation site investigated by F. H. van der Maarel at the Cisaat River. The AHP results indicate that the Bodas River site is the top priority for development. Community initiatives supporting this effort include the National Prehistory Day event in Kalibodas, the Museum Goes to School educational programme, and digital outreach through Instagram, TikTok, websites, and YouTube. This case demonstrates the importance of community participation in heritage conservation, scientific collaboration, and public education.