SPAFA Journal 1992, Vol 2, No 3

Recent finds of more slab-graves in the Bernam Valley, Peninsular Malaysia BY LEONG SAU HENG Stone cist graves have long been known from a limited number of areas in Southeast Asia, especially from the Bernam Valley of Peninsular Malaysia, the Pasemah highlands of south Sumatra, and from central, west and east Java. Solitary finds of stone cist graves have also been reported from South Vietnam, at Sa Huynh and Xuan Loc, and the Philippines l. These cist graves are normally regarded as Late Metal Age antiquities from the early first millennium AD and are also considered to be one of the many manifestations of early Southeast Asian megalithic cultures. One scholar (Heine-Geldern, 1945), for instance, had grouped these stone monuments as belonging to a younger megalithic complex considered to be distinct from earlier megalithic cultures predating the Metal Age. 4 SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER THREE In general, despite the fact that Manteri, a low hill on the banks of who had worked in the estate for a archaeological investigations on cist the Bernam River was chosen as the long time, had become familiar with graves in Southeast Asia had begun first point of our reconnaissance what we were looking for. According since the early decades of this work in the Bernam Valley. In fact, to some of these workers, at least 5 century, our knowledge of these the very first slab-grave reported in other graves had been unearthed culture(s) remains rather vague. This the Bernam Valley was accidentally accidently in the past. According to is due to the fact that the majority of discovered on this hill in 1895 by a one informer, 3 graves were exposed the sites were excavated in the pre- British sub-assistant surveyor. The by tractors some 20 years ago in a war era when field techniques and grave was later excavated in 1919 by field2 just next to Field 8 where K 1 laboratory analyses were not as H.C. Robinson (director of Museums, is located. One large grave was advanced as that of today, Federated Malay States) and R.O. found on top of a hill at Ulu Basir consequently much data that could Winstedt. Meanwhile, archaeological nearby. All these went unrecognised have been obtained from such sites interest seemed to have shifted from (for their archaeological signifcances) were not retrieved. In Peninsular Changkat Menteri when more slab- and were subsequently bulldozed. Malaysia, for instance, although a graves were found elsewhere, namely The same fate would have befallen total of 9 slab graves (so called at Sungkai (which were excavated by the recently discovered slab-graves K because they were constructed of I.H.N. Evans in 1927 and 1930) and 3 and K 4 had it not been for the large slabs of granite) were excavated at Slim River (exvavated by H.D. fact that by now the local folks are from the Bernam Valley between the Collings in 1936). No further able to recognise such structures. years 1919-1936, these ancient graves discoveries of such graves were Both K 3 and K 4 were recently continue to be an enigma in the pre/ made in Changkat Menteri until our found by a tractor driver while proto history of the region. Several recent archaeological reconnaissance levelling a large tract of land in a scholars, both archaeologists and work there last year. Two slab graves neighbour's estate in Ulu Bernam historians have spent much time on were discovered. These are all about less than 2 km downstream the questions of the origin and located in a palm oil estate belonging from Kl. The land here was being chronology of the graves and of the to United Plantations. The first grave, cleared (of old oil palm trees) for people who constructed them (Evans, designated K 1 was found on rising replanting purposes. The findings 1928; Wilkinson, 1939; Bradell, 1939; ground not far from the bank of the were ported to the estate authorities Noone, 1939; Winstedt, 1941; River Bernam. The second, who immediately contacted me at the Linehan, 1951; Lowenstein, 1956; and designated K 2 was found on high university. Slab grave K3 is just 76 Sieveking, 1956). ground, just slighty over 2 metres metres northeast of K4. Excavation of below the top of a low hill. The site both sites was conducted in February For more than half a century (since is about 2 km north of K 1. Slab 1993. 1936), no further discoveries of slab- grave K 1 was excavated in late graves were made. This rather dismal October 1992 while K 2 was As work at all the four sites has only situation is now being changed by excavated in early January 1993. The just been completed, it is only our recent discoveries of four more excavation team comprised nine possible to present here our slab graves in the Bernam Valley. personnel from the Selangor State preliminary findings. In all our Two were found at Changkat Museum and three from the excavations small bits of charcoal Menteri and two at Ulu Bernam Museums Department (National were found both inside and outside close by. Museum) with the present writer as the graves. These were all carefully the director of excavations. collected and will be sent for The recent discoveries were made in radiocarbon dating. Our careful early October 1992 by an A further important outcome of our excavations showed no signs of a pit archaeological reconnaissance team excavations at Changkat Menteri was at the sites. When the graves were from the Selangor State Museum the fact that by then many of the opened, all were found to be infilled headed by the author. Changkat local estate workers, especially those with the same soil as that found on SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER THREE 5 the outside. This suggests that the only in one area, i.e. at the neck- was also found together with these graves were not dug very deep into chest area of the grave. All these iron artifacts. These artifacts were the ground at the time of their data do suggest that these cist-graves deposited in a linear arrangement construction. At all the sites, the were receptacles for primary burials, parallel to the long axis of the grave, graves, or rather parts of them, were not secondary burials. Owing to the first the whetstone, then the sickle- only exposed when the top soil, acidic nature of the surrounding soil shaped tool/weapon and finally the usually 3 or 4 feet thick, had been (Ph between 5 to 3.5) at these open spearhead. removed. This top soil was probably sites no visible traces of human of natural accumulation. remains were found. Slab-grave K2 appears to be the richest and the best preserved of One special feature of the Changkat The same was also recorded for the four graves excavated by us. Menteri graves, which was also those slab-graves excavated in the Apart from the above mentioned observed in some of the Slim River pre-war years. This had led some to well preserved iron artifacts, more graves, is that these graves are lined believe that the graves were probably than 2,700 (present count)3 small with floor slabs which slope down used for secondary burials. Traces of red glass beads have been towards the foot of the grave. The charcoal found at some of the graves recovered from the grave. Some of graves are not orientated towards also led the early investigators to these were as extremely small, any particular compass point. Those believe that secondary burials were measuring between 0.5 mm to 0.8 located on the slopes of a hill, practised. The present writer also mm in their axis (measured from apparently would have the head end found several charcoal bits in all one end of the perforation to the of the grave at the higher level so graves. At grave K2 pieces of what other), and 1mm to 1.2 mm in that the floor slab could slope looks like burnt resin, possibly diameter. These small red glass downwards towards the foot of the Kemenyen (benzoin) were also found. beads were found scattered all over grave. The Ulu Bernam graves, K 3 All these charcoal bits were probably inside the grave suggesting that and K 4, which are located in the remains of burial rites conducted they could have been remains of lowland near the river had the head during the inhumation of the corpse. beadwork. Some were also found of the graves pointing towards the outside the grave. The grave also river. No floor slabs were found in Grave goods were found both inside yielded one large spherical carnelian them. Another difference noted and outside the graves. The most bead, one blue glass bead and between the Changkat Menteri and common grave goods found inside several chips or fragments of blue- Ulu Bernam graves is that the latter the graves were glass and carnelian green glass beads. Our wet sieving are are slightly larger and broader beads. At K3 a very large spherical of the infilling soil of K2 also than graves Kl and K2 of Changkat carnelian bead (diameter 25mm) was yielded several chips of what Menteri. The Ulu Bernam graves found inside the grave. A hexagonal looked like tiny flakes of gold and were also constructed of relatively bicone bead of rock crystal was also two tiny seeds. thinner granite slabs. Excavations of recovered from K3. Fragments of the inside of all the four slab-graves much corroded iron were recorded K4 is the only grave that yielded were carried out with the utmost from all the four graves.

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