• Abstract
• Archeological Research Of Sungai Mas, Kedah
• A History of Its Research
• Archeological Research 1992-2001
• The Findings of the Research
• Conclusion

Early expeditions into the historical sites in the Muda River corridor was more of an activity at uncovering ancient history carried out by colonial officers since the 1830s. Lt. Col. Hugh Low, the Superintendent of Province Wellesley, Prince of Wales Island, reported the finding of brick and stone structures at Srokam and Sungai Mas. Sungai Mas was said to be a tributary of Muda River. However, until 1974 there was no follow up information on Sungai Mas. Researches and studies by G.W. Earl, P.V. van Stein Callenfels, I.H.N. Evan, Wales H.G. Quaritch, Wales D.C. Quaritch, Michael Sullivan. R. Braddel, B.A.V. Peacock, the Archeological Society of the University of Malaya, Fong See Tonn, Wang Gungwu, K.S. Tregoning, J. Staargardt, and Leong Sau Heng did not include Sungai Mas. The location of this historical archeological site resurfaced in the map of ancient historical site distribution in Bujang Valley in 1974, when al Rahsid, from the National Museum, played a leading role in a special project through the National Archeological Survey and Research Unit (NASRU). However, there was no written record to be used as a source of reference. This situation continued until 1980, because Adi Taha from the Museum Department and Nik Hassan Suhaimi Abdul Rahman from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) concentrated their activities at excavating sites in Chandi Pengkalan Bujang (sites 21 & 22), Chandi Bukit Pendiat (site 17), Chandi Bukit Bendang Dalam (site 50) and in Gua Bukit Penjara, Pantai Merdeka.

The grandeur of Sungai Mas as a proto-historical archeological site began in 1979 when Jane Allen, Jan Wisseman Christie from the United States with the cooperation of the Archeological Museum of Bujang Valley and the Geography Department of the University of Malaya, made a research on "Trade transportation and tributaries: exchange, agriculture and settlement distribution in early historic- period Kedah, Malaysia." She reported the finding of 12 sites along with such artifacts as building materials, foreign ceramics, potteries, glass, beads and stone writings in the area of Kampung Sungai Mas.
The discovery of writing stones, Buddhagupta and the finding of hundreds of thousands of beads because of a canal construction project gained the attentions of various parties. Thus in 1980 a joint effort at a survey was made by among others, the Archeological Museum of Bujang Valley headed by Kamaruddin Zakaria and Nik Hassan Suhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman from the History Department of UKM, Bangi , Selangor. Its early activities, was limited because of an ongoing excavation project at Chandi Bendang Dalam (site50) and Chandi Matang Pasir (site 31). However, in 1981 Nik Hassan Suhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman conducted a first trial excavation at land lot 567 (site 33) for a research mission called "Art, archeology and the early kingdoms in the Malay Peninsular and Sumatera: 400-1400 A.D.". In the same year, Leong Sau Heng from the Department of History, University of Malaya, excavated in the same area, but only as practical exercise for students of archeology. In 1984, an archeological team from the Bujang Valley Archeological Museum headed by Kamaruddin Zakaria made selective excavations to identify the potential of the site. At the same time research and selective excavation was also conducted at Chandi Bukait Choras (site 1), Mukim Sala in the District of Yan for comparative studies of its stone writing to those found at the site in Sungai Mas.

Ahli Arkeologi sedang melaksanakan aktiviti ekskavasi.

Revelation of its archeological importance through both foreign and local media and the finding of various data was the factor which resulted in the selection of Sungai Mas in the 2nd Intra Asean Archeological Excavation and Conservation Bujang Valley, Kedah Malaysia project, held from 4th to 27 October 1985. Experts from Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia participated in this project. This project had further strengthened the important proofs needed for a comprehensive action. Among the suggestions put forward during the project was that the historical site at Sungai Mas was an early port-city that needed to be researched intensively as it would not only reveal and uncover the development of pre-Islamic civilization in Malaysia, but also that of the whole South-East Asia.
The development of its research after 1985 was less active because of budget problems but a series of explorations was still being carried out by archeologists, especially those from Bujang Valley Archeological Museum, Merbok, Kedah. The focus of their research was given to the corridors of Sungai Muda. Sungai Simpor, Sungai Terus and Sungai Merbok. The operation was also carried out on a few islands in the Straits of Malacca, such as the Islands of Sayak, Bidan, Telor, Songsong, Bunting and Tukun Terendak. This effort confirmed Kampong Sireh and Simpor Tambang as an auxiliary port besides the main port of Sungai Mas, which was a coastal port. The distribution of ruins at Seberang Perai, Penang, just as at Guar Kepah, Kota Aur and Rantau Panjang and artifacts of broken ceramics found in those islands were important data of high value. At the same period, 1986 - 1991, the Bujang Valley Archeological Museum, with the cooperation of students and lecturers from the History Department of the National University of Malaysia (UKM), carried out excavation projects at the Temple Complex of Bujang Valley, especially at site 23. Six temples could be found in this complex, which comprised an area of 3.5 hectares. The excavation was carried out to find the data on density and the diversity of artifacts for comparative studies with Sungai Mas.

In 1990-1991 a joint survey project by the Department of Museum headed by Kamaruddin Zakaria from the Bujang Valley Archeological Museum, Merbok, Kedah, Dr. Nik Hassan Suhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman from the Malaysian Archeologist Society and Dr. Michel Jacq-Hergoualc'h from Centre National de la Recherche Scientifque, Paris and the Centre for Research French Far East in Malaysia was launched. The data gathered further strengthened the importance of Sungai Mas in the context of pre-historic archeological research.

Interestingly, Sungai Mas had been overlooked by research activities during the colonial era or thereafter. In fact, while Quarith-Wales and his wife Dorothy Wales was giving their attention to the selective and ad hoc exploration and excavation of 30 sites, Sungai Mas failed to gain their attention. Research conducted in nearby areas confirmed the proof that Sungai Mas was an ancient entrepot harbour because the site was a component part of Sungai Mas. Among the sites were Chandi Bukit Penjara, Chandi Bukit Meriam where Buddhagupta inscriptions were found, and Chandi Bukit Batu Lintang, where a granite statute of Devarapala was found. The three hills might have functioned as a guard post or lookout post for activities in Merbok Bay and the Straits of Malacca. Meanwhile a gold belt engraved with the kala or sinha mukha symbol, weighing 13.574 kilograms was found in Sungai Terus. Two stone writings or Buddhagupta inscriptions using the Pallava scripts and in the Sanskrit language was found at Guar Kepah, and Cheruk Tok Kun in Bukit Mertajam, Penang were among the important sources uncovered during the research. Other related sites were in Chandi Matang Pasir, Chandi Tikam Batu and other scatted sites along the banks of Muda River, including the remote port of Srokam in Pinang Tunggal.

Archeological Research 1992-2001

	Ahli Arkeologi mempersembahkan laporan eskkavasi, sebelum penutupan projek pada 'Malam Tautan Kenangan' di Pulau Sayak Resot, Kedah.

Based on the above factor and the result of researches supported by scientific and technological methods such as by the use of geo-physics, remote sensing and geomorphology in detecting structural or archeological possibilities, the giving of information with regards to designs of settlements, changes in river network, changes in land surface along coastal areas and changes in sea level had persuaded the Archeology Unit of the Museum and Antiquity Department in Kuala Lumpur to plan this research project in 1992. The plan was also related to the unplanned finding of artifacts and excavations before this. Among the finds were Buddhagupta inscriptions in Sanskrit using the pallavic script, a Hariti statute, a Buddha's head, a Buddhist votive tablet, a statue pedestal and the head or the stone banister of stairs carved with the symbol of kala or sinha mukha, building materials such as the base of columns, threshold and granite door frame, roof tiles and so on. Besides there existed a few forts belonging to ancient Kedah kingdoms before and after the arrival of Islam as portrayed in Hikayat Merong Maha Wangsa and Al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah. These forts were Kota (fort) Bukit Meriam, Kota Sungai Emas, Kota Aur, Kota Arongarongan and Kota Kuala Muda, whose existence was clouded in a mixture of myths and reality. From the mythical aspect it was said that in this region was born and raised King Pra' Ong Mahapudisat or Raja Bersiong. Such overlapping and unclear sources needed academic explanation and proofs.

Thus the project agreed to explore, reveal, reconstruct and rearrange the chronology of its history. The target of the excavation was a piece of land with the size of 13 a. 3r. 3p, of lot number 735 in Kampong Sungai Mas, Mukim Kota, the District of Kuala Muda. However, the main concentration was at lot 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, which had a size of 1 hectare. This area was among the most evident sites as it contained the ruins of building structures and a high density of artifacts. Besides the site was still in pristine condition, untouched by any researcher.
The research was conducted by the use of a few methods with in-situ conservation approach, and demonstrated interpretatively. In line with ethics and multi-discipline archeology, the project was equipped with a site office research logistics. It was a research management system in the field of archeology, first introduced in Malaysia.