NSC #7 HIGHLIGHTS DEC 2017 - FEB 2018

FEATURES:

What was Islamic about Javanese Art in the Early Islamic period (15th-17th century)?

On Some Early Javanese Batiks Sarsikyo - Tablet-Woven Dedicatory Ribbons of Myanmar An Early Buddha Image from Buluh Cina Plantation, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra The Decorated Earthenware from the National Gallery Singapore Site

Archiving Archaeological Materials: Whose Responsibility is it?

UPCOMING EVENTS: • Public Lectures Javanese aid groups of the Company, by Jan Brandes (Credit: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. NG-1985-7-2-65) ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute 30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace Singapore 119614 Tel: (65) 6778 0955 Fax: (65) 6778 1735 Upcoming Events - pg 21 Upcoming Events - pg Recent Publications - pg 20 Recent Publications - People - pg 21 New Visiting Researcher Events - pg 13 Events - pg Ubin Day in Southeast Asia Tantrism and State Formation Workshop on Conservation A Conversation With Conservation: 2017 for Archaeologists 22-24 August NSC-APSARA Angkorian Hospitals and the 2017 Archaeological Field School (formerly Institute of Southeast Asian (formerly Institute of Southeast Asian The ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute is a regional Studies) is an autonomous organization established It in 1968. centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, economic security, and trends and developments wider geostrategic and in Southeast Asia and its economic environment. The Institute’s research programmes are grouped under RegionalRegional Economic Studies (RES), Strategic and Political Studies (RSPS), and Regional Social and Cultural Studies (RSCS). The Institute is also home to the ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC), the Nalanda- Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) and the Singapore APEC Centre. The Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, pursues research on historical interactions among Asian societies and civilisations.serves as a forum for the comprehensive It study of the through have interacted over time which Asian polities and societies ways in The religious, cultural, and economic exchanges, and diasporic networks. Centre also offers innovative strategies for examining the manifestations of hybridity, convergence and mutual learning in a globalising Asia. Editorial - pg 1 Editorial - pg 2 Features in the Early Islamic Javanese Art Islamic about What was century)? period (15th-17th Batiks Early Javanese On Some of Myanmar Dedicatory Ribbons Sarsikyo - Tablet-Woven Deli Image from Buluh Cina Plantation, An Early Buddha North Sumatra Serdang Regency, Gallery Earthenware from the National The Decorated Singapore Site is it? Materials: Whose Responsibility Archiving Archaeological ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute is not responsible for facts represented and views expressed. Responsibility rests exclusively with the individual author(s). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission. Comments are welcome and by the author(s). Copyright is held the to may be sent author(s) of each article. CONTENTS ISSN: 2424-9211 Editorial Committee Fong Sok Eng Mark Heng Kao Jiun Feng Lim Chen Sian David Kyle Latinis Hélène Njoto Managing Editor Foo Shu Tieng Executive Editor Terence Chong Editorial Chairman Tan Chin Tiong is published by the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and available electronically at www.iseas.edu.sg. NSC HIGHLIGHTS 1 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

The NSC Archaeological Field School participants enjoyed a site lecture conducted by the National Authority of Preah Vihear at Preah Vihear Temple in November 2016 (Credit: D. Kyle Latinis).

Detail of relief on Angkor Wat, taken during the NSC Archaeological Field School. (Credit: S. T. Foo) EDITORIAL

In this issue of NSC Highlights, we focus heavily on material culture and investigate it within its societal context. Material culture can signify wealth, power, access to resources, as well as social and economic networks. The rarity and exclusivity of the materials from which the objects are made, and their inclusion in certain contexts, can be powerful projections of performed social and religious identity. Our first feature by Dr. Hélène Njoto, for example, examines how early Islamic period mausolea art from 15th-17th century Java fits into current debates on Islamic- ness, displays of power, and permanence. The co-opting of earlier Hindu-Buddhist iconography suggests an element of local agency. The first of two textile studies is by Mr. Peter Lee and is a succinct survey on early Javanese batiks that shows the importance and vibrancy of batik. The following work by Ms. Vanessa Chan is about the usefulness of the tablet-woven ribbons as mediums for rich art historical and historical information regarding the tradition, which is being revived. Studies of artistic and decorative styles may also help date the materials more precisely than radiocarbon dating. Dr. E. Edwards McKinnon’s article, for example, is on the exciting discovery of a Buddha image from the Buluh Cina plantation in North Sumatra which may bring forward dates for the Buddhist community for that area to the mid-to-late first millennium C.E. Mr. Aaron Kao, who looks the decorated earthenware from the excavations from the National Gallery Singapore in 2009 and 2010, and allows readers a peek into a study of style and the decorative preference of the past. The final feature article has Mr. Lim Chen Sian commenting on the current state of archiving archaeological materials in Singapore and how proper care and documentation could safeguard the collections for future generations to come. This issue also features a summary of the 2017 season of the NSC Archaeological Field School by Dr. D. Kyle Latinis, where the discovery of statuaries in-situ at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor Park made global headlines. Dr. Andrea Acri, who gave a lecture on tantrism and state formation in Southeast Asia on 14th August 2017, discussed how the tantric magical practices and rituals empowered and legitimised pre-modern rulers. This issue also features several initiatives by the Archaeology Unit. A Conservation for Archaeologists workshop hosted at NSC on the 22nd-24th August was the result of a collaboration between ISEAS and the Institute of Archaeology, University of College London. Furthermore, an article by Mr. Michael Ng documents the Archaeology Unit were invited to take part in Ubin Day, where they showcased excavated materials and information about archaeology in Singapore. Finally, Mr. Lim Chen Sian gives a post-mortem on Archiving Archaeological Materials in Singapore, an Archaeology Report Series (ARS) publication derived from a 2014 workshop of the same name. During this period, Dr. Adrian Vickers graciously shared his thoughts on “The Temple Reliefs of Angkor Wat: Some Comparative Thoughts from Java and Bali” on a 25th September 2017 Brown Bag Dialogue held at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Dr. Tana Li also gave a masterful lecture on the “Imperial Rice Transportation of Nguyen Vietnam (1802-1883)” on 1st November 2017. Please look out for more exciting content coming in the near future, as NSC Highlights will be gearing up for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of our parent institute, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, in 2018.

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute the earlycenturiesofIslamisation Northern CoastofJavaduring The artthatflourishedonthe mode ofincludingdifference. figuration andaestheticisationasa Ahmed’s conceptsrelatingtoIslamic To doso,weneedtoengagewith links totheHindu-Buddhistperiod. despite their 17th century, the 15thto communities in Muslim early Javanese sense tothe could havemade these artefacts reflect onhow 2015) helpsus University Press (Princeton Being Islamic Importance of is Islam?The Shahab the lateAhmed publication by Islamicness orirreligiousity.Arecent raises thequestionoftheirun- of artworksfromNationalMuseums addressed. Theabsenceofthistype Islamic periodhasseldombeen figures producedinJavatheearly The Islamiccharacterofzoomorphic J. deVink(Collection NationaalMuseumvanWereldculturen. Coll.no.TM-60054169) Fig. 2:Mantingan, Amonkeyinconversationwith acrab,bothsuggestedinwhorls, photobyJ. 2 What

(15th-17th century)? Art intheEarlyIslamicperiod What wasIslamicaboutJavanese FEATURE: 60054170) Museum vanWereldculturen.Coll.no.TM- photo byJ.deVink(CollectionNationaal stylised lotusrods,leavesandflowerscrolls, Fig. 1:Mantingan,elephantsuggestedin Muslim saints’( (Pasisir art)ismainlyfoundon Aside fromthesereliefs,three islamised theislandofJava. of theninesaintsreputedtohave found onalmostallfuneralsites address abanonfiguration,were These abstractpatterns,thatclearly tracery toshapezoomorphicfigures. the wayfigurativecalligraphyuses motifs decor.Theyweredepicted and areknownfortheirintricatefloral Muslim pilgrimsthroughouttheyear, mausolea arevisitedbymillionsof are mostlyfivecenturiesold.These wali reminiscent of and flowerscrolls, lotus rods,leaves in stylisedwhorls, or birdsilhouettes monkeys (Fig.2) elephants (Fig.1), they suggest in abstraction: zoomorphic figures the inventionof Islamic artwas of Javanese main characteristic However, theother some inopenwork. carved inrelief, panels delicately on stoneorwooden ) mausolea,and By Hélène Njoto Visiting Fellow,NSC Hélène Njoto2015) figure serpent abstract the mausoleumofSaint(Credit: guarding Giri, Sunan 3: Fig. Java (Fig.3).Thispairofserpents can befoundupthehillinGiri,East early Islamicperiodinabstraction One exampleofaserpentfromthe creature ofIndianmythologyaswell. lesser extenttheMakara,asea- Although inabstraction, thecrowned and Tubanin EastJava(Fig.4). way betweenthetownsof Gresik Duwur. Thesiteislocated mid- mausoleum, SunanSendang the footofagateinanother saint’s abstraction canbefoundguarding Another pairofcrownedNaga in museum. like theonekeptatTrowulan two parts,asummitandbackpart, head hasadistinctstylisedcrownin shelters theGiriSaint’stomb.Its is guardingthewoodenpavilionthat (segawon or ular),felinecaninefigures serpent ofIndianmythology( mythical animals:primarilythegiant guardian figuresintheformof also createdmainlytodepict zoomorphic representationswere dimensional (in-the-round)abstract inJavanese)andtoa #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 naga

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“Could the building of such mosques or mausolea, with their zoomorphic guarding figures have functioned then as a way for rulers and their descendants to showcase and legitimise their power in Java? In other terms, could such Muslim burial sites be considered as a ‘strong statement of Islamic faith’, and the mausolea themselves as a ‘statement of power’ made by political orders still revered to this day by millions of Muslim pilgrims?”

Fig. 4: Sendang Duwur, abstract crowned Fig. 5: Crowned Naga head, Museum serpent with an undulating body guarding Trowulan (Credit: Hélène Njoto 2009) the winged gate of the Saint (Credit: Hélène Njoto 2015) serpent figure was clearly inspired to the same period could “strong statement from Naga figures produced during allow us to understand of Islamic faith”, the Indianised period in Java, as how these artefacts and and the mausolea shown by the head kept at Trowulan sites engaged themselves a Archaeology Museum (Fig. 5). with Islamic “statement of hermeneutics. power,” made Despite the craftsmen’s effort to From a by political disguise zoomorphic features, these material orders still figures were clearly reminiscent culture point revered to this of the Hindu-Buddhist period of view, we know day by millions iconography. Should we thus that mausolea and of Muslim assume that these zoomorphic mosques in Java were pilgrims? Such figures were seen as unislamic? both built following questions may Ahmed tried to answer similar ubiquitous pre-Islamic become relevant as questions with examples from patterns of religious Indonesia is building new another part of the Islamic world and royal compounds museums for Islamic art, and at the centre of his research; the with their shrines, halls and rest- at the same time searching for its ‘Balkans-to-Bengal’ complex. Among houses, some with multi-tiered own Islamic identity now called Islam the most fascinating artefacts roofs. Could the building of such Nusantara. illustrated in Ahmed’s book is a mosques or mausolea, with their collection of wine vessels from zoomorphic guardian figures have This article is summarised from a work- the early 17th century with Arabic functioned then as a way for rulers in-progress paper presented at the 9th conference for the European Association inscriptions ordered by Moghul India and their descendants to showcase for Southeast Asian Studies (EuroSEAS), Emperors and patrons. Ahmed’s and legitimise their power in Java? held in Oxford (15-18th August 2017). Daniel analysis of the inscription on In other words, could such Muslim Birchok and Ismail Alatas (org.) Panel: What Jahangir’s wine cup (Fig. 6) showed burial sites be considered a Is Islam?: Reflections on the Late Shahab Ahmed’s Challenge to Islamic Studies that the rulers used this object as a for Scholars of Southeast Asia. statement of legitimate rulership in Presenters: Daniel Birchok, Ismail Islamic hermeneutics (interpretation Alatas, Mulaika Hijjas and Hélène of text): The ruler first declared his Njoto. Discussant: Prof. Michael Feener. The author would like to loyalty to the God of Islam, then thank Prof. Peter Worsley for his identified himself as the protector of precious comments. all Muslims (‘warrior’), established a link to the Caliphal succession to the Prophet, and finally, made a reference to the mythical divination wine cup from pre-Islamic Persian rulers. Such examples are Fig. 6: White jade wine-jug regarded by Ahmed as among produced in Samarqand for the “highest expression of Sultan Olug Beg in c. 1447- rulers and their descendants 49. Acquired in 1613 by the of Islamic faith and power” Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the (Ahmed, p. 53). written inscription on the jug translates to, “God is the Most Can Ahmed’s arguments Great! (Allahu Akbar!) The King apply to Java, where Pasisir of the Seven Lands! The Emperor mythical zoomorphic figures of Emperors who spread Justice! were also designed following The Knower of the Signs, Real and pre-Islamic models? For Java, Metaphorical! Abu-I-Muffazar Nur-ud-Din a study would be needed to know Jahangir, the King, son of Akbar, the King whether Javanese texts relating Muslim-Warrior!” (courtesy of Museum Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal)

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute (Credit: Mr.andMrs.LeeKipCollection.) Sumatra. Blockprintedonhandwovencotton. Java, 18th-19thcentury,foundinSouthern Fig. 1:Textilefragment(detail),possiblyfrom across theworld, somecenturies- possible, then, thatformuseums (Laarhoven 1994,p.408). It is in producingsuchcounterfeits punishments foranyoneinvolved known asJakarta)metedout harsh colonial governmentinBatavia (now Indian examplesthattheDutch were soindistinguishablefrom the the 17thcenturyJavaneseimitations patterned cottons.Bythemiddleof to producecolour-fastdyedand region topossessthetechnology Indonesian market,beingtheonly resist-dyed cottontextilesforthe India wastheprimesourceoffine centuries. Priortothe17thcentury, known asIndiaandIndonesiafor was producedinterritoriesnow the problemliesinfactthatbatik country remainuncertain.Partof historical originsofbatikinthe encouraged towearbatik—the of batikFridayswheneveryoneis on 2October,andtheinstitution simultaneous launchofbatikday — mostnotablycelebratedbythe is amatterofdeepnationalpride Humanity. Althoughthisrecognition the IntangibleCulturalHeritageof batik totheirRepresentativeListof In 2009UNESCOaddedIndonesian 4 Javanese Batiks On SomeEarly Independent Scholar By Peter Lee 41). Oneofthe earliestreferencesto 1691; citedin Andaya1989,pp.40– (Isaac vanThijeinBatavia, 22June made commercialbatikfor export indicated thatJavaneseproducers the 1690sconcerningsuch cloths In SouthernSumatra,areport from Javanese courts. 17th century,ratherthanfromthe milieu ofregionalportcitiesinthe emerged fromthemulticultural used suggestitmighthaveinfact The contextsinwhichthewordis both IndianandJavaneseexamples. where thetermbatikwasusedfor in Dutchcolonialtextsofthisperiod, seem tohavebecomeevencloser and Indianversionsofthetextile The connectionsbetweenJavanese 1996, vol.2,p.193). council) ofBataviain1641(Lombard the Dagregister Javanese source,butinanentry the termbatikdoesnotappearina that todate,theearliestreference pp. 410–12,pl.81).Itisinteresting tulis (RouffaerandJuynboll1914, the termusedforprocessisalso being appliedtocloththusfar,and has theearliestdescriptionofwax Hermit’s Discipline,datedto1518) century SiksakandaKaresyan Christie 1993,p.16).Theearly16th suggest batikwork(Wisseman textiles (tulisawarnna manuscripts refertolocalpainted early date.12thcenturyJavanese have existedinIndonesiafroman Batik techniquesareknownto historical paradigm. a different,transnational and suggests type oftextile, origins ofthis certainty ofthe undermines the completely instead. This be Indonesian might infact as Indian cloths identified old resist-dyed (dailyrecordsofthe ), whichmight (The cotton. early 19thcentury. Drawnbatik,handwoven Origin: PossiblyJava, Indonesia,late18thor a geometricdesignimitatinganikat pattern. indigo-dyed batikonhandwoven cotton with lower right,apatchworkfragment madeof Fig. 2b:Detailoffigure2a,showing on adodottan batik of Mataram.Thetextreferstoan during thereignofSultanAgung some timebetween1632and1633 an accountofeventstakingplace Babad Sangkala is ratherlateandcomesfromthe the termbatikinaJavanesetext to havebeenlocally-madebatik white dodots,whichwereverylikely military officersdressedinblueand portrayed agroupofJavanese Dutch travellerJanBrandes,who suggested byanillustrationthe this typeofbatikinperiodis 1914, p.427).Theprevalenceof at hiscourt(RouffaerandJuynboll double-width batikcloth)beingworn The oldestknownreferenceto 1603, 2218,2253,3339). (Ras 1968,lines1313, probably producedinJava in Banjarmassin,most to kainbatik makes severalreferences Hikayat Banjar from the17thcentury.The can alsobefoundintexts batik inMalayliterature batik aswelltoexported Kip Lee.) 00111. GiftofMr.andMrs.Lee Civilisations Museum,2011- silk, andwool.(Credit:Asian century. Handwovencotton, Sumatra, Lampung,18th-19th and Europe;tailoredin robe. Textile:India,China, Fig. 2a:Ceremonialpatchwork (batikdodot,a , (c.1739-1750) #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 (batikcloth) (1660s) 5 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

cloths, during his travels communities refer to as in the Dutch East Indies the daun bolu or sirih in the late 18th century leaf pattern, which can (see issue cover). be found on Indian trade textiles found from as far By the 18th century afield as Fostat (in Egypt) there were therefore and Sulawesi. probably three types of Javanese batik: batik for This very brief survey the royal courts, batik of the small inventory of imitations of Indian trade early Javanese batiks cloths, and batik made Fig. 3: Ceremonial cloth (detail). Origin: Possibly Java, 18th or early 19th reveals a marked diversity for various regional century. Drawn batik on handwoven cotton. (Credit: Fukoka Art Museum, 14- in style, pattern, markets export markets. It is also Hd-312) and cultural influences, evident that batik was of Australia (1987.1932, Maxwell and suggests that a multicultural endeavour involving 2003, pp. 172-173), the Fukuoka batik-making was a remarkably local and migrant communities in Arts Museum (Fig. 3), and the Mary heterogeneous enterprise, evolving Java, including the Dutch, Arabs, Kahlenberg collection in Santa Fe along an international trade Indians and Chinese (for example, (Barnes and Kahlenberg 2010, nexus of creative and competitive Lee, 2014, pp. 104-106). plate 31). In the same era, Indian enterprise. Batik, as much as it is an producers also created mordant and Indonesian intangible heritage, has The majority of the oldest Javanese resist-dyed copies of woven patolas an evolutionary history that stretches batiks that have survived were made as well as the gringsing ikats of Bali. far beyond its borders. in the 19th century on imported European machine-made cotton. Many specimens of these Indian Peter Lee is a collector of textiles and the Extant batiks from the 17th and 18th versions have been published (for author of “Sarong Kebaya: Peranakan Fashion In An Interconnected World 1500- centuries are scarce. Only a handful, example, Guy 1998, pp. 12-13). 1950” (2014), published by the Asian all produced with natural dyes Civilisations Museum. (indigo and possibly mengkudu red derived from Morinda citrifolia), can “By the 18th century there References be found in some public and private Andaya, B. W. (1989). The cloth trade in collections around the world. Most were therefore probably Jambi and Palembang society during the of these examples, hand-woven in seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Java on narrower local looms, were three types of Javanese batik: Indonesia 48 (Oct.): 27–46. exported to other parts of Indonesia. batik for the royal courts, Barnes, R. and Kahlenberg, M. (Eds). (2010). A recently published indigo-dyed The Mary Hunt Kahlenberg Collection: Five batik imitations of Indian Centuries of Indonesian Textiles. New York, cloth from a private collection had NY: Prestel. been collected in Palembang and trade cloths, and batik made radiocarbon-dated to the 17th Guy, J. (1998). Woven Cargoes: Indian for various regional export Textiles in the East. London: Thames & century. With its refined geometric Hudson. pattern and gold leaf decoration, markets.” it might represent the kind of batik Laarhoven, R. (1994). The power of cloth: The textile trade of the Dutch East India commissioned by the royal courts Company (VOC), 1600–1780. (Unpublished (Barnes and Kahlenberg 2010, p. One unique and possibly early doctoral dissertation). Australia National 124). University, Canberra. http://hdl.handle. batik, dyed with indigo patterns on net/1885/10888 The sources of patterns on Indian a fine, white handspun cotton, is trade cloths and Javanese batik currently on display in the museum Lee, P. (2014). Sarong Kebaya: Peranakan shed further light on the early Fashion in an Interconnected World, 1500- next the tomb of Sunan Drajat, one 1950. Singapore: Asian Civilisations Museum. development of these two types of of the mystical founders of Islam textiles and their relationship. One of in Java (in Paciran village, eastern Lombard, D. (1996). Nusa Jawa: Silang the earliest pattern sources were ikat Budaya. 3 vols. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Java). Its design combines mythical Utama. cloths, which were produced both feline figures, possibly modelled in island Southeast Asia and India after Chinese or Vietnamese Maxwell, R. (2003). Sari to Sarong: Five since antiquity. One example of early Hundred Years of Indian and Indonesian prototypes, with abstract motifs Textile Exchange. Canberra: National Gallery Javanese batik evidently attempts (perhaps caves or mountains) (see of Australia. to imitate the famed double ikat Njoto, NSC Highlights Issue 4). The patola silk cloths from Patan, Gujarat Ras, J. J. (1968). Hikajat Bandjar: A Study in staggered outlines of these abstract Malay Historiography. Bibliotheca Indonesica (Fig. 1). Another fragment, part of motifs, which clearly imitate ikat no. 1.The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff. a patchwork robe, has a geometric work, is one remarkable feature pattern that attempts to mimic a Rouffaer, G. P. and Juynboll, H. H. (1914). of this textile. This kind of stepped De batikkunst in Nederlandsch-Indië en haar simpler single ikat cloth (Fig. 2). or staggered design effect can geschiedenis. Utrecht: A. Oosthoek. Both these textiles were acquired in be found on another fragment of southern Sumatra. There is another Wisseman Christie, J. (1993). Ikat to Batik? a batik, probably made in Java, Epigraphic data on textiles in Java from the group of early batiks that imitate the but discovered in Sulawesi. This ninth to the fifteenth centuries. In Nabholz- unique gringsing ikats of Tenganan example also combines different Kartaschoff, M.-L., Barnes, R. and D. J in Bali. Such cloths can be found in Stuart-Fox (eds.), Weaving Patterns of Life: stylistic influences, especially ikat- Indonesian Textile Symposium 1991. Basel, 1993. the collections of the National Gallery like effects and what the local Toraja ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute often containinformationaboutthe ornament intheweaving,which the inclusionofextensivetextand The primaryinterestofsarsikyois written onornate,lacqueredsheets. from thePitakasforceremonialuse, known askammavaca woven totieupkammawa writing medium. stopped beingusedinMyanmarasa the 20thcenturyCE,palm-leaves originated. Afterthebeginningof began inMyanmar,orwhereit the practiceofweaving works ofmerit.Itisnotknownwhen were donatedtomonasteriesas Buddhist Scriptures,whenthelatter palm-leaf manuscripts( originally usedtotieupbundlesof woven inMyanmar.Theywere are long,tablet-wovenribbons Sarsikyo (alsoknownas without thesarsikyo . (Credit:Vanessa Chan) sarsikyo. Theyarestillbeingproduced, but then bewrappedinaclothandtied withthe ornate, lacqueredsheets.Thekammawa would the Pitakasforceremonialuse,written on An exampleofthekammawa,extracts from Dedicatory RibbonsofMyanmar Dedicatory Sarsikyo -Tablet-Woven 6 Sarsikyo werethen ), extracts pe-sar) ofthe sarsikyo Sazigyo , (also ) animals suchas bowls, floweringstemsandspecific hinnthar or templeflag-pole,thesacred the earth-goddess, and figural.Commonimagesinclude highly varied,beingbothgeometrical The non-textualornamentationis some arepoemsintheirownright. valuable historicalinformation,and individuals). Thesecanprovide those commissionedbyhigh-ranking locations andcareers(particularly contain informationabouttheir name thedonors,andsometimes favourable futureexistences.Many gain andsharemerit,ortohave achieve Nibbana/Nirvanaorto Buddha, expressionsofdesireto nature –poemsofpraisetothe themselves arealwaysofareligious non-religious context.Thetexts Pali texts,andneverusedina of scriptureorcommentarieson exclusively toaccompanydonations As farasisknown,theywereused in theMonandRakhinelanguages. Burmese script,thoughsomewere Sarsikyo werealmostallwovenin interdisciplinary approach. the studyofwhichwouldrequirean texts, textiles andreligioushistorical and itscircumstances.Beingboth donors, thecontentsofdonation, of ornamentation thanearlier a muchmorestandardised sequence later, ‘Mandalay-style’ religious significanceaswell. The seems clearthattheanimals have lions, stags,dogs,birdsand fish.It sarsikyo arecomplexobjects, bird,sun-okoroffering- By VanessaChan chinthe Independent Scholar sarsikyo have tagondaing ormythical

Yangon. (Credit:E.Moore) Sarsikyo inuse.ZaykabarMuseumCollection, profession. standard” withintheweaving the developmentofan“industry iconographic programme,orsimply ones. Thismayreflectanexplicit and donotappear tohavebeen to adonation,notthedonation itself, woven. Sarsikyowereaccessories King inwhosereigntheywere some earlierspecimensname the arrival oftheBritishintoMyanmar; seen insarsikyowovenafterthe their text.Calendricaldatesareonly Few sarsikyoincorporatedatesin ornamentation. (Credit:VanessaChan) longitudinal stripes,smalllettersanddense by beingnarrowwithmulti-coloured from top)thatistypicallycharacterised “Mandalay-style” (second sarsikyo (second #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 7 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

such as indigo, Tablet-weaving is a globally- but as imported distributed skill, but the ribbons synthetic dyes woven in Myanmar are probably were introduced, unique for their length (from 3 to 7 they began to metres) and their density of text and predominate, due to ornament. It is likely that basic tablet their superior colour- weaving for utilitarian purposes has fastness, colour been known in Myanmar for a long variety, and ease time. Plain ribbons without text, for of use. Late-period use as monks’ girdles (kabankyo) sarsikyo, woven and carrying-straps for monks’ bowls mostly from the (thabeikyo) were woven until at least early 20th century 2011 in the village of Shwe Yin Mar Two sarsikyo weavers using the tablet weaving technique. (Credit: Mai (known among in Sagaing Region. In the past, Ni Ni Aung) dealers as the they were also reportedly used for “Mandalay” style), reins and (during World War II, for particularly valued in themselves (the were typically narrow with multi- Japanese officers) sword-belts. author observed sarsikyo without coloured longitudinal stripes, small text being used as a laundry-line, letters and dense ornamentation. The basic technique for weaving and an ornamental belt; one with There was considerable temporal square letters is a natural extension text had been marked at the back at overlap of styles; the last generation of the technique for weaving one-foot intervals, clearly for use as geometric patterns, and to the a tape-measure). Little if any effort author’s personal knowledge, has appears to have been made to keep “The primary interest of Sarsikyo been independently re-invented at them together with the pe-sar with least once. The more sophisticated which they were donated; even if a is the inclusion of extensive text technique for weaving round letters pe-sar is dated, it is unlikely that this and ornament in the weaving, as found in sarsikyo, and the will be helpful in dating the sarsikyo technique for weaving figures and that happens to be tying it together. which often contain information other ornaments, were effectively Dating of undated sarsikyo relies about the donors, the contents lost after the death of the last known on internal evidence from the text independent professional weaver and, possibly, on analysis of the of the donation, and its of sarsikyo, Daw Nyein, in 1994. fibre, dyes and stylistic features circumstances. Being both textiles However, the Saunders Weaving of the sarsikyo as a whole. Much School of Amarapura retained further research needs to be done, and religious and historical texts, academic knowledge of the basic especially on the latter. sarsikyo are complex objects, the techniques, without weaving sarsikyo itself. A Chin social enterprise The earliest sarsikyo were woven study of which would require an has revived the technique, and from hand-spun cotton thread, and interdisciplinary approach. ” is presently trying to recreate the were mostly blue, with the text in market for these unique objects. It white. From the middle of the 19th will be opening a shop in Yangon in century CE imported machine-spun 2017. cotton thread became available, and of weavers wove on commission from sarsikyo became narrower and text the kammawa-producing businesses, Vanessa Chan is an independent scholar who and ornaments more intricate. In according to the aesthetic has been doing research on sarsikyo since this period, the sarsikyo were most preferences of their clients. 2009. A more in-depth article on sarsikyo will commonly red, appear in an upcoming NSC Working Paper with the text Series issue. and ornaments in white. The earliest sarsikyo were also most probably dyed with natural dyes,

“May you have victory” woven on new sarsikyo. (Credit: Mai Ni Ni Aung)

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute Bukit Barisanrangewhichforms bordering the montane regionbetweenthecoast so-called Karo area wouldhavebeenpartofthe 18th orearly19thcenturies,this rise oftheDelisultanateinlate by riverinechannels.Priortothe and bothsiteswereformerlylinked settlement nowknownasKotaCina an importantmediaevalharbour lies somesixkilometresinlandof an earlysettlementsitein1974.It lands andwasfirstrecognizedas transforms intolow-lyingtidalswamp former tobaccoplantationlandscape edge ofhighergroundwherethe Kota Rentangislocatedatthe in NorthSumatra. sub-district ofDeli-SerdangRegency of KotaRentang,inHamparanPerak close totheboundarywithvillage location intheBuluhCinaplantation, from apreviouslyunrecorded interesting archaeologicalrecoveries Medan Faculty atUniversitasNegeri Azhari, HeadoftheSocialScience In August2017,D-PhilIchwan Earth) Fig. 3:Locationmap ofsitesmentioned(Credit:E. EdwardsMcKinnon.Basemap: Google Serdang Regency, NorthSumatra Buluh CinaPlantation, Deli An EarlyBuddhaImagefrom 8 , advisedthewriterofseveral Selat Melaka dusun By E.Edwards McKinnon , thesub- andthe Associate Fellow,NSC Ma Huaninhis Malay sources.Aruismentionedby from 16thcenturyPortugueseand polity ofAru,known the formerpiratical be associatedwith Kota Rentangmay in theMedanarea. early Islamicsites pre-Islamic and the mostinteresting preserved oneof very neglecthas however, thatthis It transpires, colonial planters. interest toDutch area wasoflittle Kota Rentang,this in andaround nature oftheterrain Due totheswampy group. of theKaroethnic lowland elements occupied by spine ofSumatra the mountainous (瀛涯勝覽) asasmallcountryvisited Ying-yai Sheng-lan

bricks werefoundatscattered the time,severallarge,well-made in 2011withinterestingresults.At Sriwijaya CentreatKotaRentang undertaken bytheISEASNalanda- controlled excavationswere Jakarta, asurfacesurveyand Research CentreforArchaeology, In co-operationwiththeNational another Acehneseattack. completely inabout1618,following from Johor.Itfinallydisappeared independence withassistance 16th centurybutbrieflyregained and subjugatedbyAcehintheearly (Credit: E.Edwards McKinnon) to theBuluhCinasugarcane plantation. adjacent village in Kota Rentang Ambul hamlet toPaya a trackleading Fig. 4:Findspotbeside was initiallyattacked foe ofMelaka.Aru a rivalanderstwhile the MalayAnnals also mentionedin 1405 and1433.Itis of Zhenghebetween by theChinesefleets Edwards McKinnon) Ganesa. (Credit:E. bronze (Top) -Fig.2:Miniature Buddha, 38.5cminheight. (Left) -Fig.1:Standing #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 as 9 NSC HIGHLIGHTS locations over the site, finds which about the 14th century, there was first millennium C.E.), and also to suggest that a brick-built candi or a flourishing indigenous community Srivijaya Jambi, if not Palembang. temple had formerly existed at an in which there were adherents of a This community may have been as yet undiscovered location as, in form of Buddhism. Skilling (2012), in the gateway for access to valuable mediaeval times in Sumatra, brick pointing out the importance of relics resources of the interior which was used only for sacral construction and images in relation to Buddhism included gold, benzoin, camphor, (Edwards McKinnon et al. 2012). in mainland Southeast Asia, notes bees wax and honey that appear in that these may only reflect the later sources relating to this area. In 2012, local farmers recovered origins, the ritual and ideological This, in turn, may explain why Tamil a number of bronze images in a inspiration of the religion which may merchants, seeking to exploit the recently ploughed sugar cane field well have come from elsewhere. It is rich natural resources of northern at Buluh Cina, adjacent to Kota thus not possible to state precisely Sumatra following the weakening of Rentang. The most important of what form of Buddhism was actually Srivijaya after the Tamil raid of 1025, these images can be found in Fig. practiced at any one location. established a trading settlement at 1. It is a slightly damaged standing nearby Kota Cina in the mid/late 11th Buddha, 38.5 cm in height, of South The recoveries at Buluh Cina display century C.E. Asian inspiration. This image, being some distinct characteristics which hollow cast, is a technique which may or may not be linked to a Dr. E. Edwards McKinnon is an Associate disappears in later Pallava and Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. He discovered the mediaeval harbour site of Kota Cōla images (Guy 2004), and may Cina near Belawan, Deli in 1972 and since be dated to between the 7th and “The Buluh Cina recoveries then has been involved in archaeological and 9th centuries C.E. The head of the suggest that there was an art historical research in Sumatra. He has image is covered in tight curls with a been involved in excavation work at Kota established indigenous Cina and Kota Rentang in north Sumatra; prominent pointed usnisha or raised in Palembang and Batujaya with the École part of the top of the coiffure. The community of Buddhist française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), at Cot Me ears are elongated and there are near Ladong; and at Lhok Cut, Lamreh, Aceh two folds on the neck. The hairline adherents flourishing in and Besar regency with the Earth Observatory of Singapore, helping to recover evidence of unusually, is slightly heart-shaped around the Kota Rentang historical tsunamis in the Aceh region. and may reflect Thai Dvaravati influence. A pleated robe covers area by the mid/late first The author is grateful to various experts who the left shoulder, leaving the right have advised on aspects of Buddhist influence millennium C.E., and that and art in Southeast Asia. Any errors are the shoulder exposed and extends down author’s own. to just above the ankles. This in there were by that time art-historical terms is known as the already established links References ‘open-mode’. The rear is plain and to South Asia, Kedah and Diskul, M.C.J. (1980) Art of Srivijaya. Kuala undecorated. The right arm is broken Lumpur: Oxford University Press. off just below the shoulder and the to Srivijaya Jambi, if not left arm is missing altogether. A Edwards McKinnon, E., Wibisono, N. H., separate hand which appears to Palembang.” Surachman, E., Sarjiyanto, Purnawibowo, S., Lim C. S. & Vinning, B. (2012). The Kota relate to this image has also been Rentang Excavations. In Tjoa-Bonatz, M.L., recovered. A. Reinecke & D. Bonatz (eds). Connecting locally-developed art style. As more Empires & States: Selected Papers from The rear of the image, although discoveries are made, it seems the 13th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian apparently undecorated, suggests likely that sites in Sumatra which, Archaeologists. Singapore: NUS Press, 67- that a nimbus or halo may have prior to the advent of Islam, was 81. been attached to the statue and predominantly an area of Buddhist that formerly it may, in turn, have influence (Miksic 2016), produced Guy, J. (2004) South Indian Buddhism and its Southeast Asian Legacy. Cultural Interface been attached to some form of back numerous images in distinct, often of India with Asia, Religion, Art & Architecture. support. Stylistically this may thus be hybrid styles and, in all probability, New Delhi: Printworld, 155-175. linked to southern India or Sri Lanka were from a variety of sources. but fits in to what is often called ‘The The style of the Buddha images, Miksic, J. (2016). Archaeological Evidence for Esoteric Buddhism in Sumatra, 7th to 13th Art of Srivijaya’, applicable to certain however, may infer linkages to Century. In Acri. A (ed). Esoteric Buddhism Southeast Asian imagery created southern India. A fragment, possibly in Mediaeval Maritime Asia, Networks of between the 7th and 13th centuries. that of a seated Manjusri image, and Masters, Texts, Icons. Singapore: ISEAS – The Kota Rentang area would have stamped baked clay sealings, offer Yusof Ishak Institute, 253-273. been within the sphere of influence possible links to Bengal, and early Skilling, P. (2011). Buddhism and the of the erstwhile polity of Srivijaya Avalokitesavara images suggests Circulation of Ritual in Early Peninsular which is thought to have extended links to elsewhere in Sumatra or Southeast Asia. In Manguin, P.-Y., Mani, A. & to Aceh at the north-western tip of Southeast Asia. Wade, G. (eds.), Early Interactions between South and Southeast Asia: Reflections on Sumatra, and to Kedah on the Malay Cross-Cultural Exchange. Singapore: Institute Peninsula during the period under The Buluh Cina recoveries may of Southeast Asian Studies. 371-384. discussion. thus suggest that there was an established indigenous community Wong, D. C. (2007). The Case of Amoghapasa. Journal of Inner Asian Art & Comparable images are known of Buddhist adherents flourishing Archaeology 2: 151-158. from several locations in Southeast in and around the Kota Rentang Asia. The recovery of several area by the mid/late first millennium fragmentary images, together with C.E., and that there were by that an earlier recovery of an eight- time already established commercial armed Amoghapasa bronze in and religious links to South Asia, south Indian style, and the presence Kedah (also known as Kataha— of large, well-made bricks at the only a day’s sail to the north, and Kota Rentang site would suggest a place where Buddhism is known that prior to the arrival of Islam in to have flourished at the turn of the

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute 2010 (Lim2017:55).Byidentifying Singapore (NGS)sitein2009 and excavated attheNationalGallery assemblage (41,341grammes) largest categorywithinthe ceramic of 7,818grammesformthe second Earthenware weighingatotal mass (Mourer 1984:33). maker’s markorergonomicfeature and beliefs,orsimplyasaformof artistic expression,culturalidentity group behavioralpatternssuchas important indicatorsofindividualor pot. Toarchaeologists,thesecanbe appearance orfunctionalityofthe 154). Thisisdonetoamplifythe stages ofitsproduction(Rice2015: surface ofthepotteryduringvarious enhancements” appliedtothe on earthenwareareformsof“surface archaeological context,decorations clay (Rice2015:154).Withinthe by thepotteronsurfaceof the typeofinterventioncarriedout qualities oftheornamentationand treatment” describesthephysical typology. Thefirst-“Surface used toformthisclassification interactions. Fourattributeswere and howitrelatestosocio-cultural evolution ofpotterymakingcultures, archaeologists toexaminethe inter-site comparisonswhichenable This isusefulasadatasetfor is toformaclassificationtypology. One primarygoalofmyresearch day activities. played animportantroleinday-to- other nearbysitessuggeststhatthey their widespreaddistributionatnine CE Temasekoccupationalcontext, Found mainlyinthe14thcentury possibly asreligiousparaphernalia. and storagepurposes,some as utilitarianreceptaclesforcooking Celsius) clayvesselslikelyserved low-fired (400to900degrees and Clune2003:80–102).These (Bacus 2003:39–51,Bulbeck application ofdecorativemotifs studies ontheproductionand There havebeenfewspecialized underexplored inSoutheastAsia. Earthenware decorationsare 10 the National Gallery SingaporeSite the NationalGallery The DecoratedEarthenwarefrom the majorityof techniquesused physically recessed.Inother words, the earthenwaredecorations were NGS, anoverwhelming88% of earthenware assemblage. At is approximately8%ofthe total analyzed. Thesamplesize mass weighing 2,564grammeswas A samplesetof585pieces of theseancientinhabitants. to makeinferencesintothelifeways archaeologists withsomeevidence these materialremainscanprovide socio-cultural representations, and discussingtheirpossible possible productiontechniques, the different categories of decoration, potsherd. (Credit:AaronKao) action andaccidentaltoolmarkscanbeseenonthesurfaceofthis Fig. 2.Dentate-toolinciseddecoration.Differenttypesofrotary and displacement.(Credit:AaronKao) Fig. 1.Impresseddecorationdisplayingsignsofclaypenetration Research Officer, NSC Archaeology Unit 0cm 0cm 1 1 By Aaron Kao 2 2 3 3 one tofivegrooveconfigurations. of thevessels.Theserange from concentric groovesfoundon therims type ofdecorationisbroadly incised 1). Thesecondmostnumerous imprint isnormallyproduced (Fig. held withinthevessel.Atextured unison withasupportinganvil around thesurfaceofpot,in surface(s). Itisstruckrepetitively with acarveddesignonitsworking tool isahandheldwoodenpaddle accounted for46%.Thisparticular carved-paddle-impressing (Fig.4) of 23typesdecorationsidentified, action”. Forexample,outofatotal related “operational tool usedandits description ofthe “decoration,” isa The thirdattribute, decorations. all recessed responsible for They werealso 38% respectively. action at52%and the mostcommon and incisingwere At NGS,impressing techniques (Fig.2). with production associated motor performance indicate thetypeof physical gestures the potter(s).These marks leftbehindby random toolorfinger investigates the the secondattribute, “Operational action”, considered rare. hand. Theseare shaping theclayby (appliqué) and created byadding of relieffeatures portion consisted 1). Theremainder the moistclay(Fig. displacement of of penetrationand involved adegree #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 11 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

“The distribution of archaeological materials at NGS suggested that small households probably occupied the site (Lim 2017: 67). This would indicate the type of domestic environment in which this heterogeneous assemblage of decorations would have high visibility. ”

The remaining with the geometric pottery found in decorations are varied Southeastern China (Solheim 1990: and uncommon. These 26). It is believed that this particular included different pottery tradition occurred as early forms of impressing, as 3,000 to 2,500 BCE (Meacham such as paddles that 1979: 127). Although it is not clear were bound with a if these decorations share the same variety of textured meanings as those found at NGS, organic materials, the antiquity of this form of aesthetic stamping with an expression is apparent. intricately carved tool (Fig. 3), and puncture 0cm 1 2 3 The above is an extract from the author’s research on NGS earthenware decorations. marks created with The paper will be published in the proceedings a single-point or Fig. 3. Intricately stamped curvilinear scroll motif. (Credit: Aaron of the 2nd SEAMEO SPAFA International dentate-tipped Kao) Conference on Southeast Asian Archaeology implement. These in Bangkok. tools resembling a References comb were also used to incise parallel lines Bacus, E.A. (2003). Styles of alliance? (Fig. 2). Decorated earthenwares in late prehistoric and protohistoric Philippine polities. In J Miksic (ed.), Earthenware in Southeast Asia: The fourth attribute, Proceedings of the Singapore Symposium on “motif,” describes Premodern Southeast Asian Earthenwares. the primary visual Singapore: Singapore University Press, 39-51. elements of a Bulbeck, D. and Clune, G. (2003). Macassar decoration (Shepard historical decorated earthenwares: Preliminary 1956: 266-267). A chronology and Bajau connections. In J diverse assemblage Miksic (ed.), Earthenware in Southeast Asia: Proceedings of the Singapore Symposium on of 75 motifs was Premodern Southeast Asian Earthenwares. identified at NGS, Singapore: Singapore University Press, 80- with most of these 102. occurring as 0cm 1 2 3 Lim, C.S. (2017). Preliminary report on the complex or simple archaeological investigations at the National geometric designs Gallery Singapore, Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre within the carved- Fig. 4. This complex carved-paddle-impressed decoration is Archaeology Unit Archaeology Report Series, paddle-impressed composed of a variety of visual elements. (Credit: Aaron Kao) No 5 (January). category. Common Meacham, W. (1979). New C-14 dates visual elements used consist of from Hong Kong. Journal of the Hong Kong triangles, squares, zigzag and The distribution of archaeological Archaeological Society 8: 126-128. curvilinear lines, circles, and parallel materials at NGS suggested dashes (Fig. 4). Complex geometric that small households probably Mourer, R. (1984) Technical progress: What occupied the site (Lim 2017: 67). for? Some reflexions on pottery in Cambodia. designs are composed of hachured In J Picton (ed.), Earthenware in Asia and triangles laid in an alternating or This would indicate the type of Africa: A Colloquy Held 21-23 June 1982. linear configuration, herringbone domestic environment in which United Kingdom: University of London, School pattern, and repetitive rectilinear this heterogeneous assemblage of Oriental and African Studies, 28-53. of decorations would have high spirals. Variations within these Rice, P.M. (2015.) Pottery Analysis, 2nd ed. motifs are evident, which indicate visibility. The high frequency of Chicago: University of Chicago Press. that some potters might have shared geometric motifs produced by a non-rigid expression of similar carve-paddle-impressing appears Shepard, A.O. (1956.) Ceramics for the to place the pottery tradition found Archaeologist. Washington DC: Carnegie beliefs. Incised decorations are less Institute of Washington: Pub, 609. elaborate, featuring borderlines, or at NGS in context with the Bau- unidentifiable curvilinear patterns. Malay pottery tradition hypothesised Solheim, W.G. (1990). Earthenware pottery, by Wilhelm G Solheim II (Solheim the T’ai and the Malay. Asian Perspectives Appliqué designs are mostly plain (1990) 29(1): 25-36. bands going around the vessel 1990: 26). Solheim believed that but rare organic forms were also this tradition could have formed Solheim, W.G. (1964). Pottery and the encountered. as early as 1000 BCE (Solheim Malayo-Polynesians. Current Anthropology 1964: 376), with strong similarities 5(5): 360, 376-406.

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute 2004. Separately, anotherprincipal from excavations datingbackto approximately 6tonsofartefacts Institute (ISEAS)hasincustody of Presently, theISEAS-Yusof Ishak archive hasgrownoverthe years. excavated materials,andthis themselves tolookafterthe archaeologists havetaken upon as forthelastthreedecades for archaeologistsinthecountry, All thesepresentaconundrum handle andcuratethecollection. necessary archaeologicalstaffto institutions alsodonothavethe project. Understandably,these assemblage fromanexcavation the completearchaeological institutions hesitateoverreceiving items forexhibitionpurposes,these may occasionallyaccessionafew National HeritageBoard(NHB) While selectmuseumsunderthe for archaeologicalmaterials. that servesasacentraldepository agency orinstitutioninSingapore Lee 2013).Assuch,thereisno excavations orbychance(Lee2004; recovered fromeitherarchaeological law addressinganyantiquities finds isunclear.Thereno ownership ofarchaeological (CIfA 2014).InSingapore,the is lookedafterforposterity archaeological collection duty toensurethatthe the ethicalandprofessional In theUK,archaeologistshave the archaeologicalprogress. frequently overlookedaspectof archaeological artefactsisa archiving andcuratorshipof collections. However,the maintaining archaeological responsibility incaringforand archaeologist bearsaheavy a custodianofthepast, and studyingthefinds.As photographing, cataloging sorting, conserving,illustrating, behind-the-scenes –cleaning, that archaeologistsgrapplewith a long-drawnsequenceofprocesses discipline. Beyondtheexcavationis only onecharacteristicofthe extent, excavationisnonetheless from thepast.Whiletruetoan the sediments,revealingmarvels in atrench,patientlydiggingaway with dirt-cakedbrows,hunchedover popular imaginationasindividuals Archaeologists areportrayedin 12 Whose Responsibilityisit? Archiving ArchaeologicalMaterials: Ishak Institute.(Credit:AaronKao) Artefact storageattheNSCArchaeologyUnit,ISEAS-Yusof the Archaeology Unithasplans adequate resources andfunding, researchers. Withtheprovision of national collectionforfuture research andtosafeguard a archives arevitalforbothacademic demonstrate thatarchaeological management initiativesto post-excavation andcollection Since 2014,therehavebeen Unit, thefutureisinmaking. Meanwhile, attheNSCArchaeology care willneedtobedetermined. responsibility fortheirupkeepand of antiquities,andthedelegation legislation addressingtheownership for Singapore.Inthelongerterm, to developthearchivingprotocols specialists willneedtoleadtheway future, archaeologistsasdomain or archive.Intheimmediate of thearchaeologicalcollection role toplayindeterminingthefate institutions inSingaporeallhavea that archaeologistsandheritage archive. Theworkshopsurmised the needforanarchaeological Singapore debatedanddiscussed specialists fromtheUKand practitioners andarchaeology in late2014,whereheritage Archiving ArchaeologicalMaterials an ISEAS-NHBworkshopon collection commencedwith on thefutureofarchaeological of “whoseresponsibility,”adialogue In anattempttoanswerthequery University ofSingapore. collection isheldattheNational Associate Fellow,NSCArchaeologyUnit By Lim ChenSian Lim 2017;forthcoming). documentary archive(Kaoinpress; of sitereportsaspartthe including rollingoutthepublication useful researchfromthecollection, is coupledwiththeproductionof other sitesby2024.Thisambition Concert Hall,EmpressPlaceand National GallerySingapore,Victoria materials fromexcavationsatthe to catalogueandcareforthe Site, Singapore. Earthenware fromNationalArtGallery Kao, Aaron.(inpress).TheDecorated CodesofConduct.pdf Institute. Series. Singapore:ISEAS-YusofIshak Centre ArchaeologyUnit Report Victoria Concerthall. on theArchaeologicalInvestigationsat Lim, C.S.(forthcoming).PreliminaryReport 5. Singapore:ISEAS-YusofIshakInstitute. Archaeology UnitReportSeries Gallery Singapore. Archaeological InvestigationsattheNational Lim, C.S.(2017).PreliminaryReportonthe of CulturalProperty Archaeological heritage. Past: TheLegalProtectionofSingapore’s Lee, J.T.-T.(2013).APresenceofthe and Law Cultural ObjectsinSingapore. and TreasureTrove:TheLegalProtectionof Lee, J.T.-T.(2004).Treaties,TimeLimits Archaeology International ConferenceonSoutheastAsian collection. country’s archaeological to collectivelypreservethe closely withheritageagencies looks forwardtoworking resources andfunding.ISEAS the availabilityofadequate All thisiscontingenton archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/ (2014). CodeofConduct.https://www. Chartered InstituteofArchaeologists. References Report SeriesNo.7’. NSC ArchaeologyUnit‘Archaeology nsc-au-archaeology-report-series iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/ available fordownloadon Materials arenowpublishedand workshop ArchivingArchaeological Papers fromthe2014ISEAS-NHB 9(3):237-280. . 2nd SEAMEO-SPAFA Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre 20:257-288. Nalanda-Sriwijaya #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 International Journal Art, Antiquity https://www. as

13 NSC HIGHLIGHTS EVENTS: Ubin Day By Michael Ng Research Officer NSC Archaeology Unit On 16th July 2017, the NSC the years, such Archaeology Unit (AU) was invited to as excavations, participate in Ubin Day to highlight the NSC the archaeological potential of Pulau Archaeological Ubin to the public. Field School, and various The AU team with Minister Desmond Lee (first from right) at the Ubin Day was the grand finale of outreach projects. archaeology booth. (Credit: Lim Chen Sian) Pesta Ubin (Pesta means festival in The team also Malay), between 10th May to 16th displayed artefacts The event saw several hundred July. First organised in 2002 and excavated from various sites in people visiting the AU stand. They revived in 2014, this year’s Ubin Day Singapore for visitors to handle so as expressed amazement at the drew 14 interest groups who were to enable a more tactile experience. richness of Singapore’s archaeology, devoted to the conservation of Pulau During the event, AU also highlighted history and heritage. Ubin Day Ubin’s natural and historical heritage about the archaeological potential of also provided an opportunity for to showcase their work and their love Pulau Ubin. Although some of these AU to engage with other Ubin Day of the island. The event was hosted sites may have been destroyed by participants, such as the Singapore by Mr. Desmond Lee, Minister at natural erosion and development, Heritage Society, the Singapore Prime Minister’s Office and Second there still remains evidence of Nature Society, National Parks, and Minister for Home Affairs & Second mineral extraction and plantation many others. Experiences were Minister for National Development activities from the 19th and 20th shared and further cooperation will and had the Minister for Education, centuries, as well as World War II certainly contribute to the continuing Mr. Ng Chee Meng as the Guest of military installations. These sites efforts in preserving Singapore’s last Honour. offer the opportunity to research the kampung. material culture from the colonial The AU’s booth showcased some period. of the activities they conducted over Tantrism and State Formation in Southeast Asia By Nicholas Chan Research Officer, NSC

Monday, 14 August Borrowing from historian and rituals across South- and 2017 – Dr Andrea Oliver Wolters’s ‘man of Southeast Asia. Acri, Associate Fellow prowess’ theory, Dr Acri Without excluding the social and at the Nalanda- articulated a paradigm economic dimensions, Dr Acri Sriwijaya Centre that can help to analyse explained that resorting to magical (NSC) and Maître state formation and practices to fulfil aims of realpolitik de conférences at statecraft in premodern is, in fact, a cliché in many Śaiva the Ecole Pratique Southeast Asia. and Bauddha Tantras, and even des Hautes Etudes Tantrism was located in Brahmanical Sanskrit normative (Paris), discussed within such a paradigm texts. To demonstrate this, he raised the important socio- where the political and the example of the overlap of royal- religious phenomenon religious elements, as focused tantric ideologies and rituals of tantrism and state- Dr Andrea Acri giving his lecture well as the supernatural and expansionist states from the formation processes on Tantrism and State Formation domain and the personal 12th century onwards, such as in the in premodern in Southeast Asia (Credit: ISEAS charisma of rulers, were case of Singhasari and Yuan China. Southeast Asia in an - Yusof Ishak Institute) interrelated and mutually Interestingly, even as Southeast Asia NSC lecture entitled reinforcing. Pointing is populated by modern postcolonial “Tantrism and State Formation in out the overlap of political and states today, remnants of tantric Southeast Asia”. Covering a period religious/ritual terminologies such as magic within politics can still be from the 6th to 15th century and mandala, mantrin and cakravartin, found. beyond with examples from medieval he illustrated how this paradigm was mandala polities in Sumatra, Java, shaped by political and religious The lecture drew an attendance of and Cambodia, the lecture explored competition and mutual influence, about 50 people, including many the indissoluble links between State bringing to attention the Sanskritic participants from this year’s NSC and Tantric ideologies and ritual continuum that enabled the Archaeological Field School. systems. hybridisation between premodern states and Indic cultures, religions,

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute makes, whethertopolishan object objects. Thechoicesaconservator through themanagementof material in aparticularcurationofchange where theconservatorengages neutral processofnarrative-making, conservation. Conservationisanon- the needtoadoptacriticalviewof archaeological process,hestressed on theroleofconservationin In Dr.DeanSully’sopeninglecture Singaporean context. understanding ofartefactsina the care,researchandcultural conservation andhowitcaninform historians engagedinadialogueon of archaeologists,conservatorsand discussed. Participantsconsisting to fieldliftingtechniqueswere archaeological conservation from theoreticalcurrentsin At theworkshop,everything Ishak InstituteinSingapore. workshop attheISEAS–Yusof conduct a3-dayconservation of NorfolkMuseumsService,to London (UCL),andLiuMan-Yee Archaeology, UniversityCollege Clare LimfromtheInstituteof conservators DeanSullyand The NSCArchaeologyUnithosted techniques. in conservationstrategiesand like thisprimedtheparticipants Archaeologists”, hands-onactivities 3-day workshop“Conservationfor conservators. Overthecourseof adhesive, underthecarefulwatchof former gloryusingparaloidB-72 reconstructing thepotstotheir next hourwasspentpainstakingly smithereens inafewseconds.The smashed withahammer,reducedto pots wereplacedinabagand “Bam! Ping!Pong!”-Flower 14 Archaeologists 22-24August2017 Workshop for onConservation Conservation: A ConversationWith material objects.” the managementof of changethrough particular curation engages ina where the conservator of narrative-making, non-neutral process “Conservation isa change theobject only amaterial manner. Itisnot and immaterial both amaterial the presentin the pastinto of thingsfrom transformation is acrucial dirt, forexample, traces ofdustand or toleaveresidue sparkly condition to abrightand for theceramicspractical(Credit:NatalieKhoo) Angie Liow(lefttoright)smashingflowerpots Research OfficeMichaelNg,andConservator UCL archaeologystudentYoungWeiPing, Research Assistant,NSCArchaeologyUnit reconstruction. (Credit: NatalieKhoo) Research Officer AaronKaoarrangingpotsherds forceramic By Natalie Khoo colonial practiceisover-turned,as Here, conservationaspartofa values-based andpeoples-based. conservation -materials-based, informed three-prongapproachto but proposesacontextually follow a‘cookbook’prescription, conservation treatmentsneednot Dr. Sullyisquicktopointoutthat certain materialconstituents. with thechoicetopreserveoromit its historyandbiographythatoccurs undergoes, butaspecificre-tellingof Singapore. (Credit:AaronKao) on aplankfromtheEmpressPlaceSite, and careforwaterloggedwoodartefacts Dr. DeanSullydemonstratespropercleaning #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 15 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

away using microscopy, mechanical cleaning and the application of dilute acids. At the workshop, AU Research officers Aaron Kao and Michael Ng shared how marine materials were being treated. Ceramics encrusted with calcerous deposits of marine origin were treated using a combination of dental tools, chemical processes, (Left to Right): Chan Wai Peng and Michael Ng, participants in the workshop, practice delicately handling and desalination techniques. artefacts. (Credit: Kyle Latinis) These processes were further fine-tuned and discussed people and communities looking with the conservation after their own past is prioritized and experts. Another application engaged with first to inform how of conservation to local materials are treated. material involved planks of waterlogged wood found With this theoretical foregrounding at the Empress Place site. in mind, participants were then Under the careful supervision introduced to the technical elements of the archaeological of conservation. In the materials- conservators, the practical based aspect of the conservation involved all the participants process, materials must be cleaning and scrubbing the identified, in order to gain a better waterlogged surface gently, a understanding of its agents of standard cleaning procedure deterioration, storage best practices in the proper care of delicate and appropriate treatments. wood artefacts. Conservator Liu Man-Yee demonstrating the hallmarks of In order to develop a more fine- a well-reconstructed pot. (Credit: Natalie Khoo) Workshop participants also grained appreciation for materials, polyutherene foam, were examples visited the National Heritage participants were exposed to 30 of specialized lifting operations Board’s Heritage Conservation material samples, which included that ensure a fragile object such Centre (HCC) where locally based porcupine quills, papyrus, tortoise as ceramics can be removed from conservators working on various shell, ferrous metal, and highly fired the ground safely. Other on-site materials such as textiles, paper, earthenware. Participants were first-aid can be conducted through and artworks to be exhibited at later given a quiz on 24 random consolidating fragments with acrylic local museums were seen at objects, including a high quality emulsions, that participants got a work. Conservation investigation Assyrian ivory replica from the hand at preparing and treating the methods and techniques were UCL collection and World War II edible artefacts with. shared among the HCC and finds from Adam Park, Singapore. workshop participants. In all, this Certain materials more locally A dialogue between UCL workshop allowed archaeologists, relevant were later delved into, such conservators and local conservators and historians alike as ceramics, metals and marine archaeologists was further to engage in a holistic discussion materials. For instance, ceramics, established through sharing on how to conserve, why we a mainstay of archaeological knowledge and contextual conserve, and who we conserve for; assemblages in Singapore, was information that was cross-culturally providing additional tools in our local focused on through learning the relevant. The corrosion removal archaeologists’ tool kit for protecting basics of ceramic reconstruction of metals was first introduced by and narrating Singapore’s past. (in the aforementioned example of Clare Lim through a case study on the smashed flowerpots) and lifting an archaeological iron object at This workshop is second in the series of the delicate objects in the field. planned ISEAS-UCL training workshops UCL, after which the key tenets and for NSC Archaeology Unit, following the conservation methods then used to successful Archaeological Science module In the latter, field conditions were compare and apply to Adam Park by Professor Marcos Martinon-Torres and Dr. simulated in basins, where weetabix ferrous material. Participants had a Patrick Quinn in 2016. and digestive biscuit “artefacts” chance to work on corroded local were buried in garden soil. Different material, such as bullets and militaria techniques, such as using bandage brooches from the battle, on which support or block lifting employing concretions were carefully peeled

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS Archaeological FieldSchool the 2017NSC-APSARA Angkorian Hospitalsand sponsored by Singapore’sMinistryof Asia Summit (EAS) participants with thedual aim oftrainingEast APSARA Authorityresearch project Field SchoolsupportsanNSC and old TonleSnguothospitalsite. The medical industriesatthe800-year- Angkorian urbandynamics and art historicalresearchexplored This season’sarchaeologicaland and specialisedactivitiesatthesite. breaking informationonsettlement analysed, thedatawillyieldground- archaeological assemblage.Once following weeksalongsidearich statues wereunearthedinthe the iceberg.SeveralrareBuddha Dvarapala statuewasthetipof 12th/13th centuryBayon-style Good fortuneprevailed.The Cambodia. of anarchaeologicalcampaignin not appearbetterforthelaunch day offieldoperations.Thingscould guardian). Itwasonlythesecond sandstone Dvarapalastatue(temple discovery ofanancient1.9-metre the internationalspotlightwith Field Schoolwascatapultedinto The 2017NSCArchaeological ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute 16 Jayavarman VII sanctioned102 According to inscriptional evidence, and staff. art historytrainingfortheparticipants Dr. Njoto Hélène was ableto conduct site (Sharrock2017)where NSC’s exists atthefamedBanteay Chhmar each cardinalgate.Asimilar pattern is oneoffourmajorhospitalsnear Jayavarman VII(1181-1218CE).It Thom cityruledbyBuddhistKing northern gateofthefamedAngkor Tonle Snguotislocatedoutsidethe in thebackground. to thepartyofcameramenandVIPs participant continuedwithawrynod media attentionandvisitors”,the and conservationneeds…also,the rare discoveries,includingprotection learning alotabouthowtodealwith excavation andfieldskills,we’re of theparticipants.“Besidesbasic it wouldbesoexciting!”saidone truly amazing…Ineverimagined “Working onabig-discoverysiteis discoveries duringtheirtraining. to activelycontributenotable The EASparticipantswereable Foreign Affairs(MFA). Visiting Fellow,NSCArchaeologyUnit By D.Kyle Latinis major temples, suchastheBayon are depictedon carvedreliefsat Hospital compounds andtreatments archaeological perspective. very littleabouthospitalsites froman 2006). Despiteefforts,we still know Angkor Thom(Pottierand Chhem Tromoung, atthewestgate of archaeologically tested–Prasat only oneothersitehasbeen hospital siteshavebeenstudied, Although artandarchitectureat substantial merit. Jayavarman VIIandotherstogain spiritual ailments.Thisalsoallowed and coveredphysical,mental healthcare. Healthcarewasholistic about ancientstate-sponsoredpublic erected makingaboldstatement Numerous hospitalswereindeed area reaffirmingthiswasnomyth. sites havebeenidentifiedoveravast 2005:10), severalancienthospital number maybesymbolic(Chhem and Jauques2017).Althoughthe Finot 1903;Sharrock2011; period ofwarfare(Coedes1940; Angkorian kingdomfollowinga systems andcitiesthroughoutthe classes tobebuiltalongmajorroad hospitals accessiblebyallsocial Reap, Cambodia.(Credit:NatalieKhoo) Snguot, northofAngkorThom,Siem recovered fromexcavationsatTonle often associatedwithBhaisajayaguru, Sunlight orMoonlightBoddhisatva, #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 17 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

Ceremony before removing the Dvarapala statue. (Credit: Ea Darith) checkpoints to centralised workshop) and sections assure healthy which vary (e.g., number of staff). and sane people entered the city. Treatment halls for patients probably Furthermore, existed within the compounds. There hospitals in urban must have been residential areas for areas and along doctors and staff. Structures were road networks likely made of organic material such ramped up military as wood and thatch which would and commercial have rotted away over the centuries. logistics and Stone perimeters, foundations or services. floorings along with post-holes, ceramic roof tiles, and rubbish areas The Say Fong may be the only remaining indicators. inscription lists The team recovered an abundance Excavating the buddhist statuary in situ. Note: the composition of roof tiles, pottery, faunal remains The Bhaisajyara guru (torso missing) is the of 98 hospital staff from doctors to (bones) and metal artefacts lending second from the left, holding the medicine fruit assistants, support staff, religious support to our hypotheses. or jarlet in his hands. (Credit: Natalie Khoo) experts, sacrificers and astronomers among others (Finot 1903; Sharrock In addition to treatment and at Angkor Thom. Scenes yield clues and Jauqes 2017; Watson 2017). residential areas, it is reasonable pertaining to the types of facilities, Watson (2017) notes that the Surin to speculate the existence of site furniture, tools, and activities. hospital inscription only lists 50 rehabilitation areas, gardens Sharrock (2017) interprets a scene staff - hypothesizing it may have (rehabilitation and medicinal), baths at Banteay Chhmar as a “medical served a smaller community. Watson similar medical facilities. One of the blessing ceremony.” The EAS (2017) also indicates there are some site features includes a more formally participants and staff visited the standardised elements to hospital constructed stone-buttressed pond. Bayon and Banteay Chhmar where inscriptions (perhaps produced in a The site libraries – built of stone – they assessed panels to assist were probably dedicated to housing interpretations. important medical texts, probably inscribed in palm leaf books or other Most hospitals have a standard perishable material. layout consisting of a formal gate/ entrance, walls, walkways, a The medical industry during formal pond (perhaps sacred with Jayavarman VII’s reign has received healing properties), a central shrine attention over the years (Dagens (chapel) and a library. The chapel 1991; Chakravarti 1979; Chhem and respective religious specialists 2005; Coedes 1940; Finot 1906; served the needs of people praying Jaques 1968; Sharrock 2011; for the sick, injured and fatigued in Sharrock and Jaques 2017). addition to facilitating spiritual and However, few people “considered mental treatments for patients. questions like medical practices beyond herbal medicine and leprosy” The location of hospital sites just One of the unique statue heads recovered (Chhem 2005:7). The team hopes to outside the gates of majar urban from Tonle Snguot. (Credit: Natalie Khoo) test soils from the site and residue sites may have also served as ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute between the11th and14thcenturies. glazed; andChinese potterydating 11th-14th century Khmerbrown- 10th centuryKhmergreen-glazed; ceramics, forexample,include 9th- 17th centuries.Glazedstoneware Pottery canbedatedfrom the 9th- necessarily hospitaloperations. of settlementanduse,but not hints ataslightlylongertime-span from theTonleSnguotexcavations late Angkorianperiod.Evidence sites nearTonleSnguotdatetothe throughout Angkor.However,most planning, andwaterengineering large landscapemodifications,urban reveal averycomplexhistoryof LIDAR analysisandgroundsurveys The BiggerPicture by APSARAAuthority. measures havebeenimplemented the siteremainshigh.Protective The possibilityofmorestatuaryat unaffiliated withthoselistedabove. recovered alongwithotherfragments elephant carvedintheroundwas Lastly, asmallstonestatueofan as afruit,bowl,cylinderorjarlet. frequently holdsimilarobjectssuch Sharrock 2011).Flankingentities Candravairocana (Finot1906:29; Bodhisattvas -Suryavairocanaand middle oftwoaccompanying depicts theBhaisajyaguruin with Bhaisajyaguruoften The typicaltrilogyassociated Boddhisattva (Sharrock2011). Candravairocana (Moonlight) a Suryovairocana(Sunlight)or is seatedatopalotusprobably Another completeBuddhastatue from anactualhospitalcomplex. archaeologically recoveredin-situ this isthefirstBhaisajyaguru recovered atothertypesofsites, Bhaisajyaguru statueshavebeen on aluggedpedestal.Although Buddha isseatedatopacoilednaga the lowerhalfwasrecovered.The Medicine orHealingBuddha.Only find. ItisaBhaisajyaguru:the represents anexceptionallyrare One Buddhastatuefragment the mainentrance. Buddha effigieswererecoverednear six largestatuaryfragmentsfromfive In additiontotheDvarapalastatue, looting. black marketsbecauseoframpant items. Statuesfrequentlyendupin These areextremelyhigh-value cultural depositsatTonleSnguot. statuary stillexistintheshallow It wasrathersurprisingthatrare The Statuary detectable incontainers. the pollenormedicinalingredients were medicalgardensindicatedin from ceramicstodetermineifthere 18 Chhmar, 13thcentury templecomplex.(Credit:Chan WaiPeng). Art historyexercise ledbyDr.HeleneNjoto,Károly Belényesy,andMr.ImSokrithy at Banteay Sokrithy. (Credit:EaDarith) Assessing a13thcenturyhospitalchapelalongtheancientAngkorianroadledbyMr.Im Brick conservationworkshopatthe9thcenturyBakongtemple.(Credit:ChanWaiPeng) #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 19 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

Data recording at potential residential mound. (Credit: S. T. Foo) Mr. Aaron Kao (foreground) conducts archaeological illustration training session while Mr. Michael Ng (background) conducts mapping exercise. (Credit: Chan Wai Peng) Exotic pottery, particularly Chinese the King built, staffed and provided mini-research projects on their celadon and Qingbai, is typical of medicines to hospitals from his own experiences and the newly recovered many Angkorian sites and provides a storehouses (Sharrock and Jaques data. Presentations were held at the larger understanding of value/supply 2017) and it is possible hospitals ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. chains, networks, and possibly social and patients were largely dependent stratification (wealth differentiation). on these. Without support following References There is no indication that pre- Jayavarman VII’s demise, hospital Chhem, R. K. (2005). Bhaisajyaguru and Angkorian or earlier habitation operations probably ceased. tantric medicine in Jayavarman VII hospitals. occurred at Tonle Snguot. Siksacakr 7: 8-18. Other Field School Highlights The larger area adjacent to the Chakravarti, A. (1979). Traditional medicine and health services of ancient Cambodia with road, canal, gate, and hospital may Beyond magnificent finds, other special references to the time of Jayavarman have presented an ideal opportunity highlights of the Field School VII (AD 1181-1220). The South East Asian for various service entrepreneurs. included site trips and field Review III (2): 39-52. Business may have died after workshops at the Angkorian sites of Coedes, G. (1940). Les hôpitaux de the demise of Angkorian cities. Banteay Chhmar and Ta Mean on Jayavarman VII, BEFEO XL: 344-347. Furthermore, the end of Jayavarman the Cambodia-Thai border, and the VII’s reign may have marked the end 7th-8th century Chenla capital of Dagens, B. (1991). Centralisme et of state support for the hospitals. Isanapura at Sambor Prei Kuk; local architecture: les hopitaux de Jayavarman VII en Thailande. Deuxieme Symposium franco- rituals and ethnographic experiences; thai: Recentes recherches en archeologie en On the other hand, we still are not and a brilliant conservation workshop Thailande, 9-11 decembre 1991. Bangkok: clear if the staff, facilities, supplies, at the early Angkorian Bakong site Universie de Silpakorn, pp. 24-41. and treatments were fully state- conducted by the APSARA teams Finot, L. (1903). L’inscription sanskrite de Say- subsidised or patients had to pay led by Mr. Tann Sophal. The Field Fong. Notes d’epigraphie. BEFEO III: 18-83. - though by what means is unknown School concluded with a trip to as the Angkorian society did not have Singapore for museum visits and Finot, L. (1915). Note additionnelle sur l’édit or use coinage/cash. We do know lectures. Participant teams conducted des hôpitaux. BEFEO XV: 108-110. Jacques, C. (1968). Les édits des hôpitaux de Jayavarman VII. Études Cambodgiennes 13: 14-17. Pottier, C. and Chhem, R. K. (2008). A la découverte d’un hôpital angkorien : résultats préliminaires d’une campagne archéologique au Prasat Tromoung. Udaya 9:169-182. Sharrock, Peter. (2011). Berlin’s 1182-6 CE Boddhisattva ‘Sunlight’ or ‘Moonlight’. Indo- Asiatische Zeitschriuft 15: 31-40. Sharrock, Peter and Claude Jacques. (2017). “ ‘The grief of kings is the suffering of their subjects’; a Cambodian king’s twelf-century network of hospitals.” In Salguero, C. (ed), Buddhism and Medicine, an Anthology of Premodern Sources. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 226-232.

Watson, Hunter I. (2017). “Hospital Inscriptions”, unpublished report prepared for NSC-APSARA Tonle Snguot archaeological research project. Wilson, Andrew. (2017). “Prasat Tomle Snguot excavations – north canal interim report; Greater Angkor Project Project Prasat Tomle ACM curator Dr. Stephen Murphy dicussing museology in Singapore. (Credit: Chan Wai Peng) Snguot excavation – interim report”. University of Sydney.

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute NSC AU Archaeology ReportSeries NSC AUArchaeology RECENT PUBLICATIONS: and ItsGlobalConnections(2017) Bagan andtheWorld: EarlyMyanmar 20 https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/nsc-archaeological-reports The completeset oftheNSCAUArchaeologicalReport Seriescanbeaccessedvia: approaches andpossiblesolutions. stakeholders. Thepapersin thisvolumecompilearangeofperspectives, generations ofresearchers, educators,thepublicandmanyotherglobal be removed,processed,catalogued, storedandarchivedproperlyforfuture Archaeological remainsare non-renewableheritageassets.Theyneedto archive. Relatedissuesin handling archaeologicalremainswerealsodiscussed. and Singaporewereinvitedtodiscusstheneeddevelop anarchaeological Heritage practitionersandarchaeologyspecialistsfrom theUnitedKingdom Singapore conductedaworkshoponArchivingArchaeological Materialsin2014. Abstract: John N.Miksic Authors: LimChenSian,DuncanH.Brown,DerekHeng, FrankM.Meddens,and Materials Archiving Archaeological NSC AUArchaeologyReportNo.7 of enquiryrelevanttotheCentre’sgoals. conducted inpartnershipwiththeCentreaswelloutsidesubmissionsfromfields research conductedorpresentedwithintheCentre.Thisalsoincludes Series wasestablishedtopublishanddisseminatearchaeologicalrelated The Nalanda-SriwijayaCentreArchaeologyUnit(NSCAU)Report https://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/2278 For moreinformation: doubt explore. volume yieldsaglimpseofnewthemeswhichfuturestudiesAsianhistorywillno integral partoftheintellectual,artisticandeconomicframeworkfoundinthis among theinternationalcommunity.TheperspectiveonMyanmar’sroleasan world, includingindigenousMyanmarpeople,whoseworkdeservestobeknown This volumepresentstheresultofrecentresearchbyscholarsfromaround Asia, ChinaandSoutheastAsiameet. activity andcommerce,abettedbythesiteslocationnearjunctionwhereSouth monastic site;itsinhabitantsparticipatedactivelyinnetworksofBuddhistreligious which flourishedbetweenthe11thand14thcenturies.Baganwasnotanisolated textual historyhaveaddedconsiderablenewunderstandingofthiskingdom, monuments areamajortouristattraction,recentadvancesinarchaeologyand of whatisvisibletodayconsistsruinsBuddhistmonasteries.Whilethese one ofthegreatestconcentrationsancientarchitectureandartinAsia.Much The archaeologicalsiteofBaganandthekingdomwhichboreitsnamecontains Price: US$29.90 ISBN (SoftCover):978-981-4786-02-7 Pages: 240 Publisher: ISEAS–YusofIshakInstitute Editors: GohGeokYian,JohnN.Miksic,andMichaelAung-Thwin ISEAS–YusofIshakInstituteandtheNationalHeritage Board, #7 •Dec-Feb •2018 21 NSC HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE: New Visiting Researcher

This section profiles the new visiting researchers and their research projects at the centre.

Barbara Watson ANDAYA (Visiting Senior Fellow) Professor Barbara Watson Andaya (BA and Diploma of Education, Sydney; MA Hawai‘i, Ph.D. Cornell) is Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i. Between 2003 and 2010 she was Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and in 2005-06 she was President of the American Association of Asian Studies. In 2000 she received a John Simon Guggenheim Award, and in 2010 she received the University of Hawai‘i Regents Medal for Excellence in Research. She has lived and taught in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and the United States. Her specific area of expertise is the western Malay-Indonesia archipelago, on which she has published widely, but she maintains an active teaching and research interest across all Southeast Asia. Her publications include Perak, The Abode of Grace: A Study of an Eighteenth Century Malay State (1979), Tuhfat al-Nafis (The Precious Gift) (1982) (as co-editor), To Live as Brothers: Southeast Sumatra in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries (1993); The Flaming Womb: Repositioning Women in Early Modern Southeast Asia (2006); A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia (2015) (with Leonard Y. Andaya), and a third edition of A History of Malaysia (2016). At the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute she will be working on research projects for the Malaysia and Indonesia Studies Programmes and the Nalanda Sriwijaya Centre. She also has a joint appointment at Yale-NUS, where she teaches a course on Gender in Southeast Asia and another on Globalization in Southeast Asia. Research Period at ISEAS: 2 August 2017 – 1 August 2018 Research Interests: History, Anthropology Research Topic: Recent developments in the Riau Islands and Perak (or Kedah), and the historical development of the Kingdom of Johor.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Lecture: Calligrams in Islamic Southeast ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute 50th Asia by Dr. Farouk Yahya Anniversary Public Lecture: Developments Date: 5th December 2017, 3:00pm-4:30pm Venue: ISEAS Library Demo Room (Level B1) in the Scholarship on Southeast Asia by Info: Calligrams, or figurative calligraphy, are texts Prof. Leonard Y. Andaya that have been shaped into images and may represent Date and Venue: TBA inanimate objects or living beings. In Southeast Asia, Info: Since the formal beginning of the “region” of calligrams are also used as talismanic devices across Southeast Asia as a field of study in the late 1950s in the various media such as manuscripts, woodwork and US, there has been a proliferation of studies employing textiles. This lecture will focus on the forms and uses of methods from the traditional disciplines as well as new two types of calligrams that are found in the region and interdisciplinary approaches. Prof. Andaya will review the place them within the broader context of Southeast Asia earlier interests in Southeast Asia dominated by foreign and the Islamic world. scholars, and show how these interests have shifted over the decades in part because of global concerns but primarily because of the involvement of Southeast Asians Lecture: Classical Javanese Figurative themselves in studying their own nation and region. Sculpture - Examining Ornament and Style by Dr. Lesley S. Pullen 2018 NSC-EAS Field School Date: 30th January 2018, 3:00pm-4:30pm Date: Q3 of 2018 (TBA) Venue: ISEAS Seminar Room 2 Location: Indonesia Info: This lecture examines a corpus of free standing Info: We are pleased to announce that NSC will figurative sculpture produced in Java in the 9th to 14th be conducting the 2018 NSC-EAS Field School century period whose elaborate dress displays textiles (Archaeology and Art History). The Field School will be with detailed patterns. It explores the origins of the held in Indonesia during Q3 of 2018. Full details will be medieval textiles depicted on these sculptures, and released on the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute website identifies the types of textiles being represented, and and the NSC Facebook once they are finalised. provides some analysis of specific motifs.

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #7 • Dec-Feb • 2018 NSC Highlights is published by the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute 30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace Singapore 119614 Tel: (65) 6778 0955 Fax: (65) 6778 1735