Sungai Batu Archaeological Site

Ritual Monument Sungai Batu
Shown within Malaysia
Location	Kedah, Malaysia
Region	Sungai Batu
Coordinates	5°41′43.08″N 100°27′14.76″E / 5.6953000°N 100.4541000°E / 5.6953000; 100.4541000
Type	Archaeological Site
History
Founded	788 BC[1][2]
Cultures	Malay Early Cilivisation
Associated with	Iron Industry and Trade

Sungai Batu is an archaeological site in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia.^[3]

Site description

Among these ruins are the remains of stone buildings and what may be a boat. Remains from the smelting of iron, including a large clay furnace, have also been found. The site covers approximately 3.9 km² (1.5 sq mi).^[4]

Arthur Demarest of the Vanderbilt Institute of Mesoamerica commented that the city most likely gained power because "any civilization that has iron will win the war because they have efficient tools".^[5][6]

Archaeological discoveries

Ruins of the walls of an estimated 500 BC building

iron ingots at the Sungai Batu Archaeological Site

The Sungai Batu excavation site covers an area of 4 km² (1.5 sq mi). Discoveries of iron ore smelting and trade suggest the presence of a prehistoric Malaysian civilisation that may date back to as early as 788 BC.^[7] This date would make the civilisation one of the oldest in Southeast Asia.^[8]

Historical records of an early Peninsular civilisation date back to Ptolemy, who stated there was a trading system between the Western and Eastern worlds through the Golden Chersonese (Golden Peninsula) route, better known as Malay Peninsula in the 1st century.

The Sungai Batu site was excavated by the Global Archaeological Research Center (PPAG), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) as part of efforts to complete the archaeological study of the Bujang Valley.

Findings from archaeological excavations indicate the existence of ancient port centre and trade activities. The discovery of building ruins such as ancient jetties, administrative building walls and unique local ritual sites remnants using brick-building foundations show evidence that the local community at that time had high skills in infrastructure and building architecture. In 2015, archaeologists in Sungai Batu managed to find several ancient ships buried at the bottom of the lake around the excavation area.^[9] The ships were found to be 12–30 m (40–100 ft) long and estimated to be 2500 years old believed to be used for commercial purposes.

Timeline of world civilizations.

Economic based civilization

About 2 million ancient tuyeres found - used in the processing of smelting iron

The early civilization of Sungai Batu was known as a place for smelting iron and wrought iron was used as merchandise. The iron smelting industry is also supported by a network of ports for export purposes within and outside the peninsula. The discovery of iron smelting furnaces and tuyere suggest that Sungai Batu became the focus place for iron trade from other civilisations around the world. Around the excavation area there is also a dumping of iron ore and tuyere. The forged irons were exported to the Western and Eastern worlds via ancient waterways using merchant ships.

Sea level in Sungai Batu

Ritual site

The construction of brick blocks and the presence of a round structure is a unique form of ritual site compared to other ritual sites found from other civilisations. Researchers found the ritual site to be local in nature and thought it was built by a local community that once lived at that time. This suggests that the local community at that time already had highly developed skills.

Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu archaeology expert Prof Derek Kennet of the Durham University noted that Indian temple architecture could still be seen in the brick layers of the square platform. While it was “highly unusual” to see a Hindu temple on top of the round base of a Buddhist stupa, it was not impossible either.

Kennet described the wall contours on the square platform, containing ledges, overhangs and a circular bulge, as the unmistakable wall architecture of ancient Indian temples.

Nasim Khan from University of Peshawar, Pakistan professor said that the ritual site in Sungai Batu required further excavations.

Researchers also argue that before the advent of Islam in the 12th century in Kedah and Hindu-Buddhism in the 5th century, ritual sites in Sungai Batu were used for the practice of animism. This is because the circular structure found at the ritual site has the characteristics of animism for the worship at Mount Jerai which is located in the northern part of the area.

Tourism

The discovery of Sungai Batu has caused a significant reaction from the Malaysian public and government. Kedah Tourism and Heritage committee chairman Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid said that the discovery of this site would cause the Kedah province to "become a magnet for the international tourism sector". The site also gained interest from the archaeological community.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sungai Batu (Kedah).