Geographical names to support monitoring of the regional dynamic in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Maps is a valuable tool for the geographer to do geographical research. One of the maps’ layer is geographical names. Geographical names belong to the cultural heritage and could help identify the development of human’s civilization. The boundaries that spread throughout a region have the characteristic of constraining both juridically and legally-formal up to its social aspects. However, the regional borders that have previously been determined are now open to modifications over time. The objectives of this research are : 1) analyse the multitemporal maps as the source of geographical names dynamic inside an area; 2) interpret data of dynamic geographical names obtained to be the basis of regional boundaries alteration. The historical map collection of the Royal Tropical Institute in the Library of Map Leiden University (Maps of Magelang from 1855, 1915, 1938, 1940), the topographic map of the U.S. Army Map Service (AMS) (printed in 1945), the Indonesian official topographic maps (Peta Rupabumi Indonesia-RBI) dated 2001, the Google Maps 2018, and the OpenStreetMaps 2018 are altogether utilized in studying the geographical names dynamic of both Magelang Municipality and Magelang Regency. The multitemporal geographical names data are later to be employed to assist the analysis of regional dynamic. We applied the descriptive qualitative method in this research. The existing maps published during the colonialism era and post-Independence Day (1945) can be beneficial to locate the development of regional boundaries and as a resource of multitemporal geographical names. The existence of Magelang Municipality physically has been found since the region belonged to Kedu Residency. On the other hand, the administrative borders were first emerging in a map issued in 1938. The maps from 1855 to 2001 showed that administrative borders of the regions and geographical names examined before were bound to change, mainly on district names. This matter happened due to the proliferation and integration of regions within the Municipality and Regency. Although the borders appeared the same on some of the maps (the 1855 version was similar to the 1915’s and from 1938 to 1945 showed the parallel border lines), the maps showed different geographical names. The orthography of geographical names is experiencing changes as well, from using diacritic to using the Perfected Spelling System (Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan-EYD).