Penemuan Seramik China di Kampung Sungai Mas,Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah

The glorious era of Sungai Mas as an important proto-historic site began in 1979 when the construction of irrigation projects in Kampung Sungai Mas, Kota Kuala Muda Kedah unearthed various artefacts such as foreign ceramics, building materials, various types of beads and pieces of glass believed to be from the Middle East, potteries and religious sculpture. Based on relative dating, the inscription of Sungai Mas I, have been dated from sixth to seven century A.D. were also discovered by chance by villagers. Studies done by Jane Allen, from United States with the Department of Geography, University of Malaya, where the research is related to “Trade Transportation and tributaries: exchange, agriculture and settlement distribution in early historicperiod Kedah, Malaysia.” She reported that at least 12 different sites with the discovery of artefacts ranging from building materials, foreign ceramics, potteries, glass, beads and stone inscription in the village of Sungai Mas. The research then continued by the researcher from Department of Museums Malaysia and UKM indicates that Sungai Mas is the earliest port kingdom and historical sites in Bujang Valley. This statement is proved by the discovery of various fractions of ceramic artefacts, which is a high-value data. Among the key evidence against the existence of the Sungai Mas as a port kingdom is the discovery of ancient Chinese ceramics from the Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD) and Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), Yuan (1271-1368 AD), Ming Dynasty (1368- 1644 AD) and the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). Stoneware’s, celadon’s, Qing Pai and porcelain are Chinese ceramic product that were always found in Sungai Mas. Middle East ceramics dated from 8 to 9 century AD, which blue or green in colour, glass fractions (Islamic glass)in various colours were also found. In fact, comparative studies done by local researchers indicated that the Chinese ceramics found in Sungai Mas has much in common throughout Southeast Asia in the period.This reinforces the evidence that the Sungai Mas was once one of the most important entrepôt in South East Asia.