Geophysical approach for the ancient iron in Sungai Batu, Bujang Valley, Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

Archaeological evidence has demonstrated that the Bujang Valley is Malaysia's richest archaeological site and served as the primary coastal centre. A study in the Bujang Valley found monuments related to trading activities and others that functioned as a temple related to the Hindu-Buddhist period. The main purpose of this study was to resolve issues and problems arising from previous studies related to the Bujang Valley civilisation, particularly in terms of iron studies. Geophysics plays a vital role in assisting archaeologists to obtain excellent preliminary results before they proceed with excavation and digging works. Therefore, the 2-D resistivity and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods were conducted to locate and map the potential iron smelting site at Site B2 (SB2). Three main characteristics that can be observed on the surface are a mound area, exposed clay bricks and surface finds. Two-D resistivity showed the resistivity values of a possible buried structure, with values > 800 Ωm. Radargram profiles showed the highest amplitude, indicating the reflections uncovered in the location in certain survey lines. This paper presents the first summary of research on the metallurgical sites in the Bujang Valley, the most important site in Malaysia. Geophysical methods, which rely on a physical contrast between buried archaeological features and the properties of the surrounding subsoil, can assist archaeological investigations.

Archaeological Experiments of Iron Smelting at Sungai Batu Archaeological Complexes, Bujang Valley, Kedah, Malaysia

“…The study of Mokhtar (2019;2012) and Muztaza (2015) at the Sungai Batu and Jeniang archeological sites did not record any findings of bellow used in iron smelting activities in the area. For the bellow production experiment, the reference from the study of Bandama (2010) has been used as a yardstick related to the shape of the wind pump used in iron smelting activities in Africa.…”

“…Mokhtar (2019) The use of raw materials from the riverbanks of the ancient Sungai Batu was proposed based on XRF, XRD and SEM analysis of the samples which revealed the similarity of the elements and mineral content of both the furnace and soil samples. XRD analysis has revealed the presence of quartz, phyllites and soil minerals (muscovite, montmorillonite and illite) which are also reinforced by SEM analysis which clearly shows the presence of subsidual and subcircular quartz which explains the raw material taken in river environment (Mokhtar, 2019). XRF analysis also showed that the silica and alumina content dominated the sample between 62.94% and 10.33-15.54% which explains the use of raw materials in the area around Sungai Batu as the raw materials for furnace manufacturing.…”

“…In order to maximize the knowledge related to the information on the architectural design of the furnace that is likely to be used in the Kedah Tua iron smelting activity at the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, the furnace manufacturing experiment was conducted. Mokhtar (2019) study at the iron smelting site at the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex and Muztaza (2015) in Jeniang was used as the main reference regarding the architectural appearance of the furnace to be erected (Figure 6) by KTP participants. The furnace structure is an enclosed architecture and has only open openings at the top and a small portion at the base in addition to being able to withstand high combustion temperatures (Rostoker and Bronson, 1990).…”

“…This is in contrast to the shaft-type furnace structure which requires a wider and wider furnace base to accommodate the height of the constructed furnace to exceed a height of two meters (Domergue and Fabre, 2017). Until 2022, there is only one find of a furnace base at the SB1G site that has a remnant of a wall structure as high as 48 cm with a base diameter of 158 cm and a width of 95 cm which suggests the furnace represents a shaft type (Mokhtar, 2019). The base of furnace I is about 48 cm high and a width of 95 cm.…”

“…Archaeological research at the Sungai Batu Archaeological site (Figure 1) have enabled for the first time records of the iron smelting industry, river jetty, administrative and rituals sites of Kedah Tua Kingdom to be examined, identified and given chronometric dating used since 788 century BCE (Beta 516413) (Figure 2) in iron smelting activities (Halim, 2019;Mokhtar, 2019). The determination of the chronometric date uses radiocarbon method on charcoal samples at one of the sites of Source: Wales (1940).…”