Geophysical approach to identifying ancient iron at Sungai Batu, Bujang Valley, Kedah, Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2022
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 omega m. 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.
Keywords
Iron, 2-D resistivity, Resistivity Ground penetrating radar (GPR), Sungai Batu, Bujang Valley
Divisions
Science
Funders
FRGS [FRGS/1/2018/STG09/USM/03/2],Universiti Sains Malaysia [1001/PARKEO/870007] [1001/PFIZIK/8011110]
Publication Title
Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia
Volume
19
Issue
3
Publisher
Acad Sci Czech Republic Inst Rock Structure & Mechanics
Publisher Location
IRSM AS CR, V HOLESOVICKACH 41, PRAGUE 8, 182 09, CZECH REPUBLIC