During an archaeological excavation at the Bukit Choras Archaeological Site in Yan, two near-perfect statues and an ancient inscription in Pallava were discovered. The excavation and research works were conducted between Aug 28 and Sept 12 by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR) and the National Heritage Department (NHD). According to Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, a senior lecturer from USM CGAR who led the excavation, the temple site finds could date back to the eighth or ninth century AD, similar to other temple sites in the Bujang Valley and the period of the Srivijaya Empire.
Pallava, a dynasty from south India, was flourishing around the sixth to eighth century AD and had a writing system that influenced most of the language scripts in South-East Asia. Dr Nasha highlighted the unique preservation of the temple at this archaeological site, specifically the well-preserved condition of its walls in the north, west, and south areas. Additionally, the discovery of two human-sized structures made out of stucco is significant since stucco findings have previously only been reported in Sumatra and Java, not in the Bujang Valley.
The Bukit Choras Archaeological Site, which was designated as a heritage site under the National Heritage Act 2005, has now solidified its historical significance. This collaborative project between NHD and public universities has unveiled previously hidden treasures. Dr Nasha mentioned the resemblance between the temple architecture in Bukit Choras and those in West Java and Sumatra, raising questions about the cultural relationship between Kedah Tua and other sites in South-East Asia. The estimated size of the temple is nine square metres, but the exact measurement can only be confirmed after completing the excavation work, which is currently at 40% completion.
The Bukit Choras Archaeological Site holds a special position north of Gunung Jerai, distinguishing it from other archaeological sites in the Bujang Valley that are predominantly located south of Gunung Jerai in the areas around Sungai Merbok and Sungai Muda. More research is still required, potentially taking several years and must be conducted on-site before any conclusions can be made about the ancient site. Dr Nasha expressed hope that his team can contribute further information and data to enhance the history of Kedah Tua.
Notably, this temple is the largest ever found in the Bujang Valley and exhibits intriguing architecture. The USM vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed, affirmed the university’s commitment to continue collaborating with NHD on further excavation works at archaeological sites to expand archaeo-tourism products. The research team has been conducting excavations in the Bujang Valley for the past 10 years with funding from the Higher Education Ministry.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
