The largest Dong Son type drum found in Indonesia is the Makalamau Drum which was discovered on the island of Sangeang off the island of Sumbawa.

The Makalamau Drum is 122 centimetres in diameter and in the centre is a twelve-pointed star encircled by twelve concentric bands ornamented with geometric or figurative designs. The body of the drum is decorated with scenes of elephants and horses led by human figures, as well as fish, birds and boats, The outermost band is ornamented with four sculptured frogs paced equidistant around the rim. It is believed that in the cosmology of the drum makers, the star represents the sun and the frogs the rain. The sun and the rain, induced by the thunderous sound produced when beating the hollow brass drum, were necessary to yield crops and sustain life.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Komarudin told reporters that the National Museum’s Building A, which housed prehistoric artifacts, was engulfed by the fire on Saturday September 16, resulting in the destruction of at least four rooms. It is suspected that the fire was triggered by a short circuit that occurred in the museum renovation project area. He said the fire was brought under control within hours and no injuries were reported.  “Experts will provide us with an assessment of the losses, but the fire has destroyed display rooms, and the lobby, and even caused the roof to collapse. The museum contained many flammable materials,” he explained.

At least 817 historical objects were impacted by a fire that broke out at the National Museum on Saturday (September 16), the National Museum’s Acting Head of Museum and Cultural Properties, Ahmad Mahendra, stated. “The affected collections and historical objects are either made of bronze, ceramics, terracotta, and wood or miniatures and replicas of prehistoric objects that were found intact or lightly to severely damaged,” Mahendra noted here on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the intensity of the fire caused the bronze base of the Makalamau Drum to seriously overheat and then shatter when the fire was flooded with water. Fortunately, the upper surface of the Makalamau Drum has remained mostly intact, and it is hoped that this historic Dong Son drum will be able to be restored.

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