Lembah Bujang ( Bujang Valley)

We will be amazed by the wonder of Malaysia’s earliest civilization at Lembah Bujang Archaeology Museum.

The Bujang Valley heritage existence was known when Colonel James Low, a British Resident reported the discovery in the 1840s. The archaeological research at Bujang Valley has been a continuous process since 1960s.

Among the archaeologists involved in conducting research at Bujang Valley were Quaritch Wales and Dorothy Wales, Alesteir Lambs, B.A.V. Peacock, Leong Sau Heng, Nik Hassan Shuhami and the Department of Museum and Antiquities.

To discover the mysteries of Lembah Bujang is to visit and see with your own eyes. Lembah Bujang Archaeology Museum is located at Bukit Batu Pahat, Mukin Merbok, Sungai Petani, Kedah.

This museum is a treasure house of recovered artifacts from historical sites dating back as early as 14th century AD. It was the Arab, Chinese and Indian traders as well as maritime traders from the Malay Archipelago who had made Lembah Bujang Southeast Asia’s central trading port.

The exhibition of the archaeological collections that serve as evidence to the existence of a vibratnt trading centre in Southeast Asia from the 3rd to the 14th century AD. Bujang Valley was also know as Nusantara, “seat of all felicities” was the bustling centre of a prosperous kingdom.

Items include inscribed stone caskets and tablets, metal tools and ornaments, ceramics, pottery, and Hindu icons.

The technique of using pile-dwelling was a characteristic of South-East Asian architecture in the prehistory period. It is still used in the construction of traditional Southeast Asian houses today.

Various types of pottery shards of Sung Dynasty dated to the 13th century.

These tiny colourful particles are also known as “manek” that can be strung as necklace.

Those refine and cut “manek” can be sewn into cloths to use as shoes as seen worn by the baba-nyonya in the later years.

Tamil Poets, Arab merchants of the 4th century and I-Tsing, a monk who sailed from China to India, knew of the existence of this civilization in Lembah Bujang. The Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (Tales of Merong Mahawangsa) calls it “Langkasuka”.

Offering items with idolism symbols contained in a stone casket reliquary. It was found through archaeological excavation and reconstruction of Bukit Pahat Temple, Bukit Batu Pahat, Merbok, Kedah.

Architecture and culture artifact connected to religion are the proofs to the existence of a Hindu/Buddhist civilization using Lembah Bujang as an entreport.

The spread of Islam resulted in the decline of Hindu-Buddhist influence and the port consequently became less important.. The emergence of new ports such as Malacca and other cities throughout Southeast Asia also contributed to the deterioration of the port at Lembah Bujang.

The surrounding area of Lembah Bujang Archaeology Museum is an ideal place for families as there are recreational activities available. The tropical rainforest landscape is full of flora and fauna unique to the region and is perfect for picnics or hiking.

The serene ambience, except for the hisses of water running downstream is ideal for relaxation.

Todate, more than 80 heritage sites of those rulers were discovered in Bujang Valley. Some of them were found in a large and strategic area.

The areas well-known for their archaeological sites that can be described as complexes are Sungai Mas, Bukit Batu Pahat, Merbok, Bukit Pendiat, Bukit Choras and Pengkalan Bujang Temple complex.

Around the vicinity, the “petai” trees grow sporadically. From a distance, the fruits hang down vividly even the green leaves could not camouflage.

The contents are taken from the pamphlet.