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Gua Kelew is one of the newly discovered caves by archaeological researchers in Malaysia. This cave has the potential to become one of Malaysia's prehistoric sites from the findings from site surveys and archaeological excavations. Among the artifacts that were found are stone tools, earthenware, ceramics, snail shells, cave paintings and animal bones. The discovered earthenwares were analyzed for their mineral content in order to determine whether they were made locally around the cave or brought from elsewhere. The outcome of this analysis is vital as the data would provide proof that the community living in the cave or the surrounding area had its own technology for manufacturing the earthenwares. However, if the earthenwares were brought from elsewhere, it is believed that trade or the exchange of goods between communities living inland and near the coast had occurred. Composition of the earthenware samples was obtained by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis for mineral content and also X-Ray Flouresence (XRF) analysis for major, minor and trace elements. Findings from the XRD analysis show that the mineral content in the earthenware samples are quartz, calcite and anorthoclase, while the XRF analysis shows a high content of silica and aluminium. The analysis also discovered that all of the earthenwares found in Gua Kelew used the same raw materials obtained from the same area. Based on the graph plot analysis, the data exhibits differences in the elements between the earthenware samples and the surrounding area's clay samples. Hence, it is suggested that the earthenwares found in Gua Kelew were not produced in the Hulu Kelantan area. This also indicates that the earthenwares may have been brought from another location to the area through trade deal between the local and foreign communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kampung Baru Archeological Site is situated in Bujang Valley archaeological area and the site is in Kuala Muda, Kedah to be exact. Past excavations conducted in Bujang Valley have discovered a lot of Middle Eastern ceramics and the archaeological sites which had been found in these excavations were dated from 5th to 12th century AD. Middle Eastern ceramics had been produced in Middle East but have been found not only in Middle East but also in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China and Japan. Most Middle Eastern ceramics found in Southeast Asia and Far East Asia are Blue-Green Glazed ceramics and the archaeological sites where these ceramics had been found usually dated from 8th to 10th century AD. Many Blue-Green Glazed ceramics are believed to be used as container to transport trade goods and finding of these ceramics can be evidence of trade with Middle Eastern countries. This study employed typological and morphological analysis on the Middle Eastern ceramic that have been discovered at this site. The results of this study found that there were 241 shards of Middle Eastern ceramic discovered in Kampung Baru site and dating for these ceramics is from 8th to 10th century AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of earthenware at the prehistoric excavation site has sparked the studies on earthenware whether it was complete or incomplete. This study aims to observe the evolution of earthenware from the prehistoric period to the protohistoric period in Kedah in shape and motif. Earthenware is one of the main artefacts found in archaeological excavation, which were used during the Neolithic age and metal age, and developed until the protohistoric period where people during that time were able to make earthenware on a large scale and size. The earthenware was analysed morphologically and typologically to observe the shape and chronology of the form from the two periods which has chronology on the shape, decoration and material found in the earthenware pieces. The earthenware was analysed according to the typology and shape of the pieces such as edge, carination, body, base, cover and stalk. The research methods used in this study were field studies, excavations and library studies. Apart from that, this study used descriptive qualitative analysis. Analysis was carried out on complete and incomplete earthenware. There were evolution in carination based on cross section. The forms produced were more straight and carinated in accordance with the different functions of the cultural context of the transitional society (protohistory). The results of the study showed that the decoration of rope imprint and no decoration were dominant in the early Neolithic era. The variety of decoration showed the universal nature found in foreign cultures such as prehistoric culture, North America, East India, Japan, Taiwan, and countries separated by geographical boundaries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. In addition, there was also motif from the effects of arca granosa shells that showed the interaction between the coastal area and the inland. The use of this motif showed the evolution from the prehistoric period which was Kelambu Cave to the protohistoric period which were Lembah Bujang and Sungai Mas through Guar Kepah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survey data on Malay fortress in Negeri Sembilan has been done by some previous researchers such as Newbold, Abdul Halim Ibrahim Nasir and Norhalim Most of their data is mainly concentrated in the west coast of Negeri Sembilan, especially in Port Dickson and around the Linggi River Basin. All of them can be categorized as residential areas of Bugis and Rembau people. There is still fewer archaeological research on the site of Kota Pedas located in the Kuala Pedas farm area. Therefore, this study will discuss the latest survey data in Kuala Pedas relating to this fortress. This study is important to uncover the latest survey data on the site of this Kota Pedas. Since Kota Pedas is found in the area of Kuala Pedas therefore, the researchers will discuss it together in this study. In addition to this, researchers have conducted a field survey as well as interviews with individuals who matter in the area. As a result, the researchers found the location of the site of the Kota Pedas was located in the Kuala Pedas farm area and several boulders with ceramic fragments were found in the area as the discovery of surface. The contribution of this research can be used as a preliminary study in archaeology about Malay fortress in Negeri Sembilan and also become a reference for subsequent researchers who want to conduct a study in Kuala Pedas and Kota Pedas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lubang Kelawar Batu Tambah Cave is a prehistoric site located near the natives of Hulu Kelantan. This site was identified as a potential site during the preliminary review by Prof. Madya Dr. Zuliskandar Ramli and master's student from the Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in December 2016. This study is aimed to examine the environment with the findings of artifacts in the cave. The method used in this study is more focused on archaeological excavation methods based on the grid system. The focus of this study is on the discovery of artifacts, ecofact and cave paintings that prove to be the prehistoric society and indigenous people in the Lubang Kelawar Batu Cave. The artifacts found were stone tools such as axes, pebbles, scrapers, chopper tools, chisels, hammer stone and the findings of non-patterned earthenware and patterned cord marks. The discovery of ecofact that is believed to be food waste is as shellfish and animal bones and discovery of rock art ia an anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, flora and abstract motifs. With the discovery of artifacts, ecofak and rock art have become evident that the Lubang Kelawar Batu Tambah Cave is used by prehistoric communities and is also used by indigenous peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous research and excavation lead to the discovery of the 2nd A.D. prehistoric settlement in the mangrove area located in Pulau Kalumpang, Perak, Malaysia. The findings encountered included pottery and earthenware, bones and abundance of various colors and shapes of glass beads. Glass beads are a handy archeological finding for its convenience size, portability and attractive material. An analysis using Fieldemission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) conducted on the seventeen glass beads samples. The samples are the combination of seven major colors and three shapes. The analysis resulted to a composition that high in silica (52.0% to 78.0%), aluminum (9.0% to 20%) and sodium (3.0% to 19.0%), a key feature of South East Asia's Indo- Pacific glass beads. The composition also shows no similarities composition to the glass beads from China, Europe and India. Different trace elements compared to the glass beads Sg Mas, Kedah pointed that the glass beads found was made in Pulau Kalumpang and the raw materials from broken glass were originated from Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]