Giant Frying Pan unearthed in Java broken en route to Museum

The Giant Frying Pan, which was unearthed in Central Java, has broken on the way to the museum. The bizarre artifact was discovered last month (April 2016) while builders were preparing to lay the foundation for an upcoming shop-house complex. Local officials are still unsure of the origins of the odd discovery.

Giant Frying Pan discovered in Java, broken on the way to Museum. Source.

Suspecting that the giant wok may hold historical value, the Purworejo Regency Government resolved to move the object to the Keris Tosan Aji Museum. Unfortunately, the giant pan broke during the relocation process. The moving of the wok was carried out by the local government, with the help of Komunitas Pecinta Offroad (Offroad Lovers Community.)

The group attempted to lift the pan with the help of leather straps and a shovel. Unable to take the outstanding weight of the 1-ton frying pan, the straps gave way, sending the giant ancient pan crashing to the ground. The giant wok found in Central Java measures nearly 3 meters in diameter and weighs over a ton.

1-Ton Iron Pan is lifted with leather straps and a shovel. Source.

“It really is unfortunate,” said Eko Riyanto, from the Department of Antiquities and Historical Traditional Values. “Of course we are disappointed, but accidents like this are hard to predict.”

Yuli Hastuti, the District Mayor, believes that they may have been too hasty in moving the enormous pan. “It’s quite a pity,” he lamented, “we shouldn’t have been in such a hurry yesterday, and we didn’t calculate correctly. For it to fall like that is very disappointing. Tomorrow it can be patched up repaired, but the pan is already ruined.”

Widodo Hadi Pranoto, the owner of the land where the pan was found, was deeply distressed at the damage of a possibly historical object.

“I am very disappointed that the frying pan has broken,” he said. 

A triangular section of the pan measuring approximately 40 x 30 centimeters has broken off. Additionally, there is a crack of about half a meter along the base of the strange giant pan.

Spectators held back by Police Tape to protect giant pan from further damage. Source.

Spectators gathered immediately after the pan had fallen, to pose and take pictures with the oversized object. The police responded by immediately putting up a police-barrier so the ancient frying pan would not be touched or damaged further.

Before being moved, the giant pan was trampled daily by hundreds of residents who flocked to the scene to take selfies. This likely played a role in weakening the pan, and leading to the damage of the possibly historical object.

Spectators climb into ancient pan for a selfie. Source.

Source.

Selfie in an ancient artifact. Source.

The Giant Frying Pan was originally discovered on Jalan MT Haryono, Kutoarjo District, Purworejo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Today, the giant wok and its fragments are securely held in the Keris Tosan Aji Museum in Purworejo.

Despite being cracked and damaged, the ancient wok still draws the interest of the public around Central Java and Jogjakarta, who now visit the museum to observe this strange object.

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About Flame Rozario

A self-proclaimed Crypto-anthropologist with a personal interest in ancient intelligent civilizations, underwater archaeology, and the truth that lies behind the legend. I write about a combination of fact, fantasy, and my own personal theories. Why? Because I can.