Nanasan Hamlet, Ngawonggo, Tajinan turned out to be an important site that has special value. An archaeologist from the State University of Malang Dwi Cahyono explained this matter.
Ngawonggo is referred to as an ancient village whose existence is written in the Wurandungan Inscription issued on Wednesday, November 7, 944 AD or during the time of King Mpu Sindok in the Medang Kingdom. In the inscription, Ngawonggo Village is called Kaswangga. A village that became a means of Kadewaguruan in the past.
In the inscription it is called the five heavens which become kadewaguruan, the five positions are spread out. If in the westernmost position it is in Ngabab Village based on the Selabradja inscription, then on the east side there is Kaswangga.
"One heaven is in Ngabab Village with the name Awaban, while the other is in Kaswangga which may be here," he said.
Three other heavens named Pangawan heaven are located in the north of Malang which is around the Pakis-Jabung sub-district. Then the Kahyangan Kagotran in the middle part of Malang and the Panghulun heaven in the southern part of Malang.
Dwi Cahyono explained that the site in Ngawonggo is very special because it is the only site in East Java whose position is on a river bank. Rivers are closely related to the pattern of life of ancient people. No wonder then that around the village a lot of ancient tools were found such as ancient bricks, jars, stone mortars and terracotta fragments.
The old age is supported by its geographical location, which is on the ancient route, which connects the Tumpang and Turyyan (Turen) areas, so that Kaswangga became a fairly strategic and advanced village in its era.
Unique relief on the Ngawonggo site.
The river is also a place of self-purification. Dwi estimates that there are three blocks of bathing pools that are interconnected with each other, each of which has a shower.
"There are a lot of traces of ancient settlements here and the rest are still there today," he said.
In Malang, there are many patirtaan which are places to purify oneself. However, the one in Ngawonggo is quite special because it is made by following the cliff path so that its shape follows the contours of the Manten River cliff.
"It still needs more in-depth research to see the extent of the patirtaan, because the details are indeed very interesting and unique, because I think this is a sacred shrine because there are so many symbols that show sacredness," said Dwi.
In the future, the results of Dwi Cahyono's research will immediately be reported to the Cultural Conservation Preservation Center (BPCB) and will then be submitted directly to the Malang Regency Government how well.