Museum Gedong Arca

Founded in 1950, the Gedong Arca Museum represents an essential destination for exploring ancient history and the passage of time on the Island of the Gods. Numerous pavilions and rooms display over 3000 archaeological finds organized and displayed in chronological order to guide visitors to discover a little-known but significant past of Bali for its development. The route starts from the stone tools found in the villages of Trunyan and Sembiran and dating back to 6000 years ago. Of notable importance is the collection of over 50 stone sarcophagi of different sizes dating back to between 3000 and 600 BC, decorated with human or animal heads carved as handles. There is no shortage of metal objects such as statuettes, earrings and coins, evidence of migrations and trade between 600 BC and 800 AD. The historical journey traces the period of the arrival of the first Hindu-Buddhist influences in Bali and the beginning of written history through reproductions of engravings showing an ancient numerical system based on images. The visit also offers a pleasant stop at a central fountain surrounded by a green garden.