Balinese copperplate inscription

The Balinese copperplate inscription or Sembiran inscription is actually a collection of ten copper plate inscriptions, which were found in the village of Sembiran, Tejakula district, Buleleng Regency, on the northern part of Bali island.[1][2] All inscription plates have a date, which is between 922 and 1181 CE, so they include a period of more than 200 years.[3] Sembiran AI is dated 844 Saka (922 CE), Sembiran B is dated 873 Saka (951 CE), Sembiran A II is dated 897 Saka (975 CE), Sembiran A III is dated 938 Saka (1016 CE), Sembiran A IV is dated 987 Saka (1065 CE), and Sembiran C is dated 1103 Saka (1181 CE).[3] Some of the oldest inscriptions are written in Old Balinese, while some of the later ones are written in Old Javanese.[3]

These inscriptions are the earliest information regarding the condition of the Julah area and its surroundings.[3] The written text states that the inscriptions were addressed to the "keraman of Julah" (Julah village elders).[1] This implies that the original inhabitants of Sembiran village were from the village of Julah, some of whom then moved 1 km up the mountain from the coast to avoid attacks from the sea.[1]