A farmer in Andonosari, Indonesia, has uncovered thousands of ancient coins and jars inscribed with Chinese characters while tilling his land on January 25, 2025. The discovery was made by Kariyo, 47, who was preparing to plant cabbage on a recently leased plot approximately 100 meters from his home.
Kariyo initially thought he had struck a large rock with his hoe, but further excavation revealed a trove of historical artifacts, including a cauldron and numerous coins weighing over 100 kilograms.
He speculated that the items are remnants of Chinese history, given the inscriptions in ancient Chinese script. Kariyo expressed his excitement at finding such treasures for the first time, stating, “If they sell for a high price, I will sell them; if not, I will keep them as souvenirs.”
The local cultural department, led by Ika Ratnawati, has dispatched a team to verify the find. Experts, including archaeologists from the East Java Cultural Preservation Center, are expected to assess the artifacts further, although the exact dating of the coins and jars remains undetermined.