Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (Sites 19, 22 and 23)

Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (GPS: 5.68432, 100.42409) is an archaeological site in Bujang Valley, Kedah. It is located at a sharp bend on State Route K656. The site was discovered by the husband-and-wife team of archaeology enthusiasts H.R.Q. Wales and his wife, in 1936.

According to Alistair Lamb, did conducted excavations here in 1958-60, the Pengkalan Bujang site is probably once a port that has since silted up. This theory is backed by the discovery of Chinese porcelain fragments dating to the Song and Yuan dynasties (AD 960-1368).

When I visited the Pengkalan Bujang site, I saw that no fresh excavation was being carried out. My wife and I visited sites 19 and 23, but found that site 22 was too overgrown with tall grass for us to reach. Surprisingly, even the trees were signaged, though in the case below, what I saw was the pokok duit-duit (Pyrrosia piloselloides), not the Vitex pubescens.

My wife and I at Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


The pokok duit-duit growing on a tree at Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


Site 19, Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)

Site 19

This site was discovered by the Waleses in 1936-37. It was rebuilt in situ in 1972. The monument is a brick candi, or Hindu temple. The mandapa (outer porch) and vimana (inner sanctuary) are enclosed in bricks.

Site 19, Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


The shed for Site 19 (25 July, 2015)


A shed is now built to shade Site 19 from the elements.

Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


The above headless statue of Ganesha, in the Maharajalilasana pose¹, was discovered at Site 16 of the Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site. It is now in the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum.

Site 22

This is part of a complex comprising site 21 and 22. However, Site 21, also called Candi Pengkalan Bujang, has been moved to the Bujang Valley Archaeological Park where it was rebuilt there in 1976. In the same year Site 22 was rebuilt in situ at the Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site. However it was rather overgrown with grass, so I dare not risk snake bite to reach it.

Model of sites 5/21 and 22 at the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum (25 July, 2015)


Tall grass blocked my way to Site 22 (25 July, 2015)

Site 23

Site 23 is a short distance from Site 19. It was at this site that fragments of ceramics and celadon were discovered.

Site 23, Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


Site 23, Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site (25 July, 2015)


Stones excavated at Site 23 lining the wall of the shed (25 July, 2015)


A large stone pot found on site (25 July, 2015)


Brick structures at Site 23 which might or might not have been rebuilt (25 July, 2015)

360° View of Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site on Google Maps Street View

Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Site is on the map of Bujang Valley Archaeological Sites

Contact

Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum
Phone: +60-4-457 2005

Jabatan Warisan Negara Zon Utara
Phone: +60-4-735 3643

References

Back to Discover Kedah mainpage; return to the Bujang Valley Archaological Sites main page

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