SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog » Bujang Valley

Malaysian government to buy land surrounding Bujang Valley site

noelbynature — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:01:44 +0000

An Information, Communications and Culture Minister has said that the Malaysian government will buy the land surrounding Bujang Valley archaeological sites in a bid to protect the archaeological potential there.

Govt to protect land surrounding Lembah Bujang heritage site
The Star, 13 December 2011

The government will purchase the land surrounding the Lembah Bujang heritage site in Kedah to prevent them from being developed with housing and property projects, the Dewan Negara was told.

Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D’cruz said the move was also aimed to ensure that the surrounding areas would not be mixed up with the archeologists’ working areas there.

“We always take care of the areas surrounding the heritage site. That’s why we will purchase the land to ensure that nothing interferes with the archeologists’ works,” he said this in reply to Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali during question time on Tuesday.

Full story here.

Sungei Batu site to get exhibition centre

noelbynature — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:19:02 +0000

The Sungei Batu site in Kedah, Malaysia will have an exhibition centre built to showcase the finds there. Two interesting things from the story – the Sungei Batu civilisation is now being called the Langkasuka culture and the minister is quoted as saying that Bujang Valley civilisation is older than Perak Man which I’m sure is incorrect, since the Perak Man is dated to around 10,000 years old.

Site of Ancient Civilisation at Sungei Batu to Have Exhibition Centre
Bernama, 05 December 2011

Sungai Batu, the seat of a first century civilisation, will have an exhibition centre recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation( UNESCO).

In connection with this, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim said UNESCO would be invited to give a new reevaluation on the civilisation.

He said, artifacts from Sungai Batu, in Lembah Bujang, Merbok which had undergone radiocarbon dating and confirmed as being from the first century or dated 101, had strengthened resolve to developed the area.

“This is a fact of archeological history that the first civilisation in the Bujang Valley is older than the Perak man found in Lenggong and is recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage.”

Full story here.

Researcher argues for Kedah as site of oldest Malaysian kingdom

noelbynature — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:38:28 +0000

An indepdendent researcher is arguing for Malaysian history books to be changed to reflect the earliest civilisation in Malaysia originated in Kedah’s Bujang Valley, rather than the 15th century Malacca Sultanate. The monumental architecture in Bujang Valley, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia, has been known for several decades now and current research by a team from Universiti Sains Malaysia have brought about new findings about the site. Of course, there are some political undertones to this argument as the primacy of the Malacca Sultanate has a function in the historical narrative of the state.

photo credit: plassen

Kedah, not Malacca, the oldest kingdom
Free Malaysia Today, 10 September 2011

Local history books may have to be re-written to accommodate a Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM) archaeological teamâ€™s discovery that the Kedah sultanate pre-dates Malacca as the oldest in the Malay peninsula.

The team from USMâ€™s Centre for Global Archaeological Research (PPAG) has unearthed evidence of ancient artifacts and an iron smelting site in Kedah dating back to 110 AD.

Among the discoveries were a complete and intact foundation of a stone building constructed with detailed geometrical precision, revealing the unification of the concept of squares and circles.

Full story here.

Excavations at Bujang Valley

noelbynature — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:03:51 +0000

Archaeologists and students at Universiti Sains Malaysia, where I was at until last year, have been for the past couple of years busy with new excavations and finds at the Bujang Valley, in the northern state of Kedah. This story from the Straits Times features some of the main finds from the ongoing work.

Digging up South-east Asia’s oldest ruins
The Straits Times, 07 January 2011

Two years ago, Malaysian archaeologists working in the coastal plains of south Kedah struck an amazing find when they uncovered man-made structures that turned out to be the oldest in South-east Asia.

The team of 30 from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and various government departments found iron ore smelters complete with furnaces and iron slag that dated back 1,900 years to AD110.

They also dug up a brick structure believed to have been used for ritual purposes and a roofed brick platform jetty near Sungai Batu – both dating from the early part of the second century AD.

USM archaeologist, Associate Professor Mokhtar Saidin, realised then that they had found remnants of the old civilisation referred to in many historical texts.

Bujang Valley needs better publicity for tourism

noelbynature — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:55:23 +0000

A large complex of ruins and new evidence for large-scale iron smelting notwithstanding, the Bujang Valley complex in Malaysia’s northern state of Kedah is not living up to its potential for tourism, laments one newspaper.

Bujang Valley impetus to tourism
New Straits Times, 19 September 2010

The discovery of a 110AD monument in the Bujang Valley could have given archeological tourism a kickstart but sadly, it has not so far, writes SUBHADRA DEVAN.

They came, they built, they exported. All in Sungai Batu, part of the archaeological expanse we call Lembah Bujang (Bujang Valley) in Kedah, way back in 110AD.

Given the easy accessibility to the sites, Bujang Valley is a good start for our country’s archaeological tourism. However, it seems to need a kickstart as it is today underrated — even among the local populace.

Indian scholars highlight links between Tamil kingdoms and Bujang Valley

noelbynature — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:58:10 +0000

Speaking after their recent presentations on Bujang Valley in Kuala Lumpur in July, some Indian scholars note the important role that Bujang Valley in Kedah, Malaysia, played in the spread of Buddhism, Hinduism and the Pallava Grantha script in the region.

Remnants of a relationship
The Hindu, 19 August 2010

The relationship that existed between the Bujang Valley in the present-day Malaysia and the Pallava and the Chola kingdoms in Tamil Nadu from 5th century Common Era (CE) to 12th century CE came under the spotlight at a recent conference on â€˜Bujang Valley and Early Civilisations in South-East Asia,’ held at Kuala Lumpur.

The conference was jointly organised by the CGAR, Universiti Sains, Malaysia and the Department of National Heritage, with Prof. Mokhtar Saidin, director, Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR), Malaysia, playing a vital role.

The Bujang Valley was originally called Kadaram (Kedah) and formed part of the larger territory of the then Sri Vijaya kingdom. Meaning the Snake Valley, it is located in the north-western part of Malaysia and is its richest archaeological complex.

The Bujang Valley was an important centre of the Buddhist-Hindu polity. It was an entry port for maritime trade with India, China and Persia.

Calls for protection, nomination and more research at Bujang Valley

noelbynature — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:21:53 +0000

Plans are bing made to nominate the Bujang Valley in Kedah as a World Heritage Site, as a result of archaeological work carried out there over the last 20 years; at the same time, researchers are calling for the protection of sites and expansion of research questions to better understand what went on in Kedah in the early centuries AD.
New Discoveries At Bujang Valley To Be Nominated For Heritage Status
Bernama, 06 July 2010

Declare Sungai Batu Area National Heritage Site – Researcher
Bernama, 07 July 2010

In-Depth Studies Needed To Establish Bujang Valley’s Early History – Archeologists
Bernama, 07 July 2010

The Bujang Valley rises at last
The Sun, 08 July 2010

The new discoveries made at the Bujang Valley, which prove the existence of the earliest civilisation in Southeast Asia, will be nominated for world heritage status in a year or two, said Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Global Archeology Research Centre director Dr Mohd Mokhtar Saidin.

He said the bid, which will be a joint effort between the centre and the Information Communication and Culture Ministry, would have to be pursued carefully so that the findings in Sungai Batu there could be exhibited using the latest technology besides attracting the public to view them.

Malaysia's Bujang Valley larger than originally thought

noelbynature — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:21:46 +0000

The extent of human settlement at Bujang Valley in Malaysia’s northern state of Kedah is larger than originally thought, with the discovery of a set of new iron smelting sites enlarging the settlement area from 400 square km to 1,000 square km. Bujang Valley was populated between the 3rd-11th century and probably played an important role in the maritime trade between India and Southeast Asia. Current research at Bujang Valley is being presented at a conference in Kuala Lumpur, which ends tomorrow. The research at Bujang Valley has been receiving a lot of attention in the last two years have been great, with the government lending its support behind it – this should mean in the next few years we should be reading more news about the site as more papers get published.

Bujang Valley larger than thought
The Star, 02 July 2010

Malaysia’s Hindu-Buddhist civilisation spread over 1,000 sq km
Kuala Lumpur News, 04 July 2010

Bujang valley continues to amaze historians
The Sun, 05 July 2010

Southeast Asian History Needs A Rewrite?
Bernama, 05 July 2010

Cabinet keen on further research on Bujang Valley
The Sun, 06 July 2010

Ministry To Focus On Bujang Valley Research Under 10MP
Bernama, 06 July 2010

The Bujang Valley civilisation in Merbok, Kedah, might have been twice as big as what it was originally thought to be, according to new findings by a team of researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Team leader Assoc Prof Dr Mokhtar Saidin said that following the discovery of ancient furnaces for iron smelting two weeks ago in Jeniang, the size was now estimated to be 35km in radius compared to 15km in radius before.

â€œThis means the Bujang Valley civilisation area encompassed about 1,000sq km â€“ three times the size of Penang island â€“ and not 400 sq km as thought before,â€ he told a press conference here yesterday.

He said the southern area of the civilisation still stretched from Merbok to Bukit Mertajam but the eastern side which previously ended at the North-South Highway now stretches till Jeniang.

Bujang Valley site to be developed into heritage site

noelbynature — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:55:00 +0000

The state and federal governments in Malaysia have agreed to jointly developed the Sungei Batu Archaeological Site in Bujang Valley, Kedah into a heritage site.

Government To Collaborate With Kedah To Develop Sungai Batu Archeological Site
Bernama, 20 May 2010

The federal government will collaborate with the Kedah government to develop the Sungai Batu archaeological site in Lembah Bujang.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the development of such site should be carried out in collaboration with the state government.

“The nation’s interest should take precedence in matters like this,” he told reporters after meeting Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak at the latter’s office at Wisma Darul Aman, here Thursday.

Accompanying Rais were National Heritage Commissioner Prof Emeritus Datin Paduka Zuraina Majid and Information Director-General Datuk Abdullah Murad.

Rais said during the meeting, he informed Azizan of the ministry’s plans to carry out studies on the discovery of archaeological sites particularly in Sungai Batu.

“We also discussed ways to develop Sungai Batu as a heritage site in the future,” he said.

Malaysia Tourism promotes Bujang Valley

noelbynature — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:15:07 +0000

The Malaysian Tourism Board promotes the Bujang Valley complex on a press release posted on their website, containing information of the various candi (temples) at the site and ways to get there.

The Ancient Kingdom of Bujang Valley
Tourism Malaysia, 30 April 2010

Bujang Valley which spreads over 450 square kilometers was the centre for international trade and shipping passing through the Straits of Melaka. It stretched from Mount Jerai in the north to the Muda River in the south and the Straits of Melaka in the west.

It was the imposing peak of Mount Jerai that first captivated the travel weary traders from the Far East to anchor at Bujang Valley. After travelling for months in the high seas, the 1,217 metre Mount Jerai must have been a welcoming sight for the seafarers.

By the 7th century, Bujang Valley had evolved into a flourishing entrepot. It was also the first port in Southeast Asia – via its sea route â€“ to link an alternative route to East and West Asia. This route was known as the Spice Route. It offered an alternative to the Silk Road, which connected Chinese and Far East traders by land. The valley continued to prosper until the emergence of the Sultanate of Malacca in the early 15th century.

Now, what remains of their once magnificent empire can be found in the candi or temple ruins that dot this sprawling historical complex.