Ethnic Ornaments on Ancient Tombs as a Source of New Ideas for Developing Nusantara Batik Motifs—Surakarta, Indonesia

Batik Nusantara is a masterpiece of Indonesia that has received recognition from UNESCO (2009) as a humanitarian heritage for oral and intangible culture. This research aims to develop batik motifs by utilizing ethnic ornamental sources from ancient tomb areas often found in the Surakarta region of Central Java, Indonesia. Various ethnic ornaments in the ancient tomb area hold actual and historical values of beauty, philosophy, authenticity, and uniqueness. The ancient tomb area has a great opportunity as a source of inspiration for batik motifs because it is rarely considered except as a sacred, magical, and mystical archaeological and cultural heritage. This research is exploratory qualitative, which explores various new forms and values not widely known by the public by taking creative, flexible, and open efforts and utilizing all sources considered essential. Data sources were obtained from seven ancient burial areas in the Surakarta area. Data and information, both visual and verbal, are processed carefully and thoroughly using eclectic stylization techniques to discover new batik motifs, values, and characters. The results of this research can improve the quality and quantity of high-quality archipelago batik typical of Surakarta, thereby encouraging the progress and development of traditional archipelago batik motifs in Indonesia.