The lost temple of Adan-Adan: hybrid architecture and challenges the and linear temple typology in Java

The Adan-Adan Temple Complex in East Java represents an underexplored yet significant archaeological site that offers new insights into the religious and political landscape of Hindu-Buddhist Java. Through the analysis of archaeological remains, historical sources and comparative studies, this research reveals that the complex served not only as a place of worship but also as part of a larger settlement, as suggested by its enclosing walls. The findings challenge the conventional linear typology of Javanese temple development by demonstrating a hybrid architectural style that bridges Central and East Javanese traditions. The temple’s dual use of andesite stone and brick, along with its iconographic features, reflects continuity and adaptation of artistic and religious influences from the eighth to the fifteenth centuries. Stratigraphic evidence further indicates that the temple underwent repeated phases of construction and destruction caused by volcanic activity from Mount Kelud. These geological and cultural dynamics reveal the temple as a living sacred space shaped by cycles of renewal and resilience. By re-examining this long-neglected site, the study contributes to a broader understanding of religious transformation, architectural hybridity and the formation of sacred landscapes in the historical development of Java.