The Socio-Religious Perspectives in the Formation of Ritual Landscapes on the Northern Slope of Muria, Central Java, Indonesia

Hery Priswanto1*, Irfanuddin Wahid Marzuki1, M. Irfan Mahmud1, and Mimi Savitri2

This article examines the formation of ritual landscapes on the northern slopes of Mount Muria through a socio-religious perspective. As an area rich in archaeological remains in the form of the structure of The Angin Temple, The Bubrah Temple, TheAso Temple, The Stone Poll, The Angin Temple Inscription, and several terracotta artifacts, figurines, and miniature temples, the northern slope of Muria shows a close relationship between natural topography and the community belief system in the XIII-XIV centuries AD. This research aims to identify how social and religious values construct physical space into sacred spaces. Using qualitative methods with landscape archaeology and ethnographic approaches, this preliminary review found that the selection of ritual locations was not only based on geophysical features such as altitude or the presence of water sources but was also influenced by the collective memory of ancestors. The results of the observations show that the ritual landscape of this region serves as a rite of reverence for nature. The structure of the space formed reflects a hierarchy of values, with certain points considered centres of spiritual energy that govern the community's patterns of social interaction. Tentative conclusions suggest that the ritual landscape on the northern slopes of Muria is the result of ongoing negotiations between humans and their environment, mediated by syncretic religious practices. This study provides a foundation for future efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage-based areas and environmental protection.