An inscription with Old Javanese script was found at the Gemekan Site, Kedawung Hamlet, Gemekan Village, Sooko District, Mojokerto Regency, East Java Province.

This inscription was found on Wednesday (9/2/2022) thanks to the results of excavations carried out by the East Java Province Cultural Heritage Preservation Center (BPCB Jatim) team from February 7 to planned to end on February 12, 2022.

The existence of the archaeological site has actually been identified by local residents since the 1980s. Locals noticed an unusual mound of earth in the area that seemed to cover certain stone structures from the past.

In 2016, the National Archaeological Research Center (Puslit Arkenas) conducted a surface survey on the mound. They still found outcrop structures in that place.

In 2018, the East Java BPCB carried out a third zoning of sites around the Trowulan Cultural Conservation Area (KCBN) in Mojokerto. They gave a cultural heritage zoning to the structure at the Gemekan Site.

Then, in February 2022, excavations were carried out to reveal the complete form of the structure. "From the results of this excavation, we found a structure like the foot of a temple whose stairs are on the east side," said Muhammad Ichwan, an archaeologist from BPCB East Java.

"When we cleaned the structure, in the northeast corner of the structure we got an inscription made of andesite stone," said Ichwan who led the excavation team.

Based on the measurements of Ichwan and his team, this stone inscription has a width of 88 centimeters, the remaining height is 91 centimeters, and a thickness of 21 centimeters. There are inscriptions on the four sides of the stone inscription, namely on the front, back, right and left sides. The underside of the truncated inscription appears to be flat, while the upper side looks pointed.

Ichwan believes the stone inscription they found is not intact, only the top. The bottom of this stone inscription has not been found.

However, there are written numbers that indicate the year the stone inscription was made. There are three numbers from the year marker which at least two digits in front of it can still be clearly read.

“Some of them can read and our friends also had the chance to read that it said 85X Saka, that was around 92X AD, that was the time of Mpu Sindok. But for the full content later the experts will research it," said Ichwan.

Maybe the third number is 2 which means 852 Saka or 930 AD. Or it could be that the third number is 3 which means 853 Saka or 931 AD. Or it could be that the third number is 9 which means 859 Saka or 937 AD. The third number for the year is uncertain because it is slightly damaged and the remaining shapes are like the numbers 2, 3, or 9.

Ichwan said that BPCB would invite an epigraph or inscription expert to analyze it. "We will also make a floor plan of the findings of the structure and inscriptions," he said.

Śrī Mahārāja Rake Hino Dyaḥ Siṇḍok Śrī Īśānawikrama Dharmottuṅgadewawijaya (also known as Dyah Sindok, Mpu Sindok or Sindok) was the last king of the Sanjaya dynasty who ruled the Kingdom of Mataram from Central Java, reigned from around 928 or 929 AD. Sindok moved the seat of power of the Mataram kingdom from Central Java to East Java in 929 AD, probably as a result of the eruption of Mount Merapi and/or invasion from Srivijaya.

During his reign, the Kakawin Ramayana and the Sanghyang Kamahayanikan were written. Sindok was succeeded by his daughter, Sri Isanatungawijaya.