Penelehhistory.com: Surabaya (26/5/24) – The Peneleh Dutch Cemetery is closely tied to the activities of Europeans who arrived in Surabaya in 1912. Five years later, the Dutch established a VOC trading post in Surabaya. To meet the needs of the people living in the city, the Dutch government built public facilities such as places of worship, hospitals, residences, offices, city walls, warehouses, and cemetery complexes.
Since Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Office XI (BPK XI) has been conducting a conservation study of the Suspected Cultural Heritage Objects (ODCB) at Peneleh Cemetery, involving 10 notable figures: PJB de Peres, Van der Tuuk, Ursuline Sister, Daniel Francois Willem Pietermaat, Paul Francois Corneille, Martinus van den Elzen, Gottfried Josef Julius, Pieter Merkus, Ohannes Kurkdjian, and Albert H.M. Dostal.
Initially, only nine figures were planned for the trial, but one mausoleum with unique and distinct architecture was also included in the documentation.
The outcome of this activity will be trial data or recommendations for future conservation processes of Peneleh Cemetery, including which methods to use, what materials are needed, and their concentrations. The fieldwork begins with observations, documenting the conditions and types of plants present on the 10 graves, such as moss, algae, protolichens, and other wild plants.
To address the damage, different materials and compositions are used. For example, corrosion is treated with a citric acid solution, with its concentration depending on the severity of the damage, followed by a resting period. The next step involves carefully scrubbing the area with water to avoid damaging the structure. If the corrosion remains, the concentration is increased. Meanwhile, moss and lichens are cleaned using lemongrass essential oil solutions.
The conservation study process involves the following steps:
- Observing each grave, documenting the materials, damages, and types of wild plants.
- Determining trial materials and methods based on the damage and materials of the grave.
- Applying the materials starting from the lowest concentration, adjusted to the type of material.
- Evaluation – 1 day for general cleaning, 2 days for moss removal.
- Recommendations – the most effective method will be applied to the object.
Conservation recommendations aim to restore the original form. “Even though old photos provide examples, we cannot create new parts without measurements,” said Mr. Nugroho Harjo Lukito. When adding missing parts, the data must include the shape and materials that match the original.
