The Sambisari Temple, located in Sambisari Hamlet, Purwomartani Village, Kalasan District, Sleman Regency, unveils insights into the civilization of the Mataram Hindu kingdom. The temple's discovery in 1966 by a local farmer revealed a site buried approximately 6.5 meters deep due to Mount Merapi's volcanic material.
Prior to the discoveries of Kedulan Temple in 1993 and Losari Temple in 2004, Sambisari was the sole evidence of a civilization devastated by Mount Merapi's eruptions. The temple's submersion suggests multiple eruptions over time. The Kuning River, located 300 meters west of the temple and originating from Mount Merapi, likely carried volcanic material that buried the site.
It is believed that the temple was buried following the eruption of 1006 AD, an event that may have triggered the relocation of the Mataram Hindu capital from Central Java to East Java. The archaeological complex includes the main temple, a temple fence, and two outer fences. The main temple features a chamber containing a lingga and yoni, indicative of Hindu religious practices dating back to the 8th-9th centuries AD.