Ancient Chinese, Malay artefacts found at Sungai Pahang sand mine

A number of artefacts were recovered at a sand mine in Sungai Pahang recently, believed to date back to the Tang, Song and Ming dynasties, as well as the Malacca and Pahang Sultanate.

They were discovered by accident last week in sand suction equipment by the mine operator who then got in touch with archaeology buff, Dionysius S.K Sharma, who the National Heritage Department (JWN) has appointed research project leader.

JWN director-general Mesran Mohd Yusop said most of the artefacts are pieces of Song celadon ceramics, Ming ceramics, as well as ancient Chinese and Malay coins.

“A team of divers found some artefacts (at a depth of 15m) near a wooden structure believed to be a ship. But further investigation is needed,” said Dionysius of the surveillance performed over three days after the first discovery and supervised by JWN.

“A lot of the ceramics looked like they had new cracks because of the dredging machinery and some looked like they were broken a long time ago,” said Mesran at a press conference today that was also attended by JWN archaeology division director Ruzairy Arbi.

JWN will conduct further research for archaeological dating which will provide a new and better understanding of the ancient maritime trade here, he said.

“We hope that through this discovery we will uncover Pahang’s - and particularly Pekan’s - cultural history,” said Mesran, adding that JWN will look for as many artefacts as possible in hopes of finding something of greater significance like unbroken pottery.

He petitioned the public to report archaeological finds as required under the National Heritage Act 2005.

- Bernama