KBRN, Jakarta: A landmark repatriation of prehistoric proportions is scheduled for 2026 as Indonesia prepares to welcome back the legendary Eugene Dubois collection. More than 28,131 fossils, including the world-renowned "Java Man," will be transported from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, Netherlands, to the National Museum of Indonesia in a massive logistical undertaking involving six large shipping containers.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon announced the timeline during the opening of the Eugene Dubois Fossil Collection Exhibition at the National Museum of Indonesia on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. He emphasized that this repatriation is not merely a transfer of objects but an important moment for global research into human evolution and Indonesian history.

"Because the quantity is vast and the items are large, we will likely use large containers. The process will be carried out next year," the Minister stated while addressing reporters, as quoted by Antara.

The Dubois collection is world-famous for containing the first discovered remains of Homo erectus (originally named Pithecanthropus erectus), famously known as Java Man. While the most critical specimens will lead the return, the 28,131 items also include a vast array of fauna fossils that provide a window into the prehistoric ecosystem of the Indonesian archipelago.

Minister Fadli Zon explained that the current exhibition serves as a precursor to the main event. The goal is to raise public awareness and celebrate the return of the Java Man, which he describes as an essential part of the "early history of Indonesia."

"This acceptance simultaneously welcomes the arrival of the Java Man fossils and organizes the early history of Indonesia," he added.

The decision to return the collection follows the successful repatriation of other cultural artifacts in September and was reached after extensive research by independent committees from both nations. Marcel Beukeboom, Director General of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden, highlighted the scientific and cultural weight of these relics.

"These fossils bear witness to an important link in human evolution. At the same time, they represent a part of Indonesian history and are a cultural heritage," Beukeboom remarked.

The 2026 arrival is expected to transform the National Museum of Indonesia into a primary hub for paleoanthropological study, finally housing the specimens in the very land where they were unearthed over a century ago. ***