Bujang Valley

A seated Bodhisattva carved in terracotta, from site 21/22

The Bujang Valley (Malay: Lembah Bujang) is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately 224 square kilometres (86 sq mi), with the discovery of a set of new iron smelting sites, Sungai Batu site enlarging the settlement area to 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi).[1][2][3] Bujang Valley situated near Merbok, Kedah, between 1,217-metre Mount Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south. It is the richest archaeological area in Malaysia.[1]

The area consists of ruins that may date more than 1,500 years old. More than 50 ancient pagoda temples, called candi (pronounced as "chandi"), have also been unearthed. The most impressive and well-preserved of these is located in Pengkalan Bujang, Merbok.[4] The Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum is also located that known as Sungai Batu,[5][6] excavations have revealed jetty remains, iron-smelting sites, and a clay brick monument dating back to 110 AD, making it the oldest man-made structure to be recorded in Southeast Asia.[7][8]

The local rulers adopted Hindu-Buddhist Indian cultural and political models earlier than those of Kutai in eastern Borneo, in southern Celebes or Tarumanegara in western Java, where remains showing Indian influence have been found dating from the early 5th century. Relics found in the Bujang Valley are now on display at the archaeological museum. Items include inscribed stone caskets and tablets, metal tools and ornaments, ceramics, pottery, and Hindu icons.[9]

  1. ^ a b Murphy, Stephen A. (November 2017). "Revisiting the Bujang Valley: A Southeast Asian entrepôt complex on the maritime trade route". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 28 (2): 355–389. doi:10.1017/S1356186317000505. ISSN 1356-1863.
  2. ^ "Historical Bujang Valley still remains a best kept secret". www.dailyexpress.com.my. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (2 July 2023). "Kedah has Southeast Asia's oldest civilisation and archaeologists barely know its complete history". CNA. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  4. ^ Wahab, Mohd Rohaizat Abdul; Zakaria, Ros Mahwati Ahmad; Hadrawi, Muhlis; Ramli, Zuliskandar (7 March 2018). Selected Topics on Archaeology, History and Culture in the Malay World. Springer. ISBN 978-981-10-5669-7.
  5. ^ Kathirithamby-Wells, J. (1990). The Southeast Asian Port and Polity: Rise and Demise. Singapore University Press, National University of Singapore. ISBN 978-9971-69-141-7.
  6. ^ Malaysia, Persatuan Sejarah (1980). Bujang Valley. Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia.
  7. ^ Mok, Opalyn (9 June 2017). "Archaeologists search for a king in Sungai Batu | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. ^ "New interest in an older Lembah Bujang, 2010/07/25". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Bujang Valley Museum". www.photodharma.net. Retrieved 20 January 2021.