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Discovery and Excavation of Artifacts from the Bidong Shipwreck, Malaysia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2023

Baharim Mustapa ,
Rafidah Razali ,
Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed ,
Badri Shah Abdul Ghani ,
Muhazam Mohamed ,
Ruzairy Arbi ,
Farizah Ideris ,
Khairil Amri Abd Ghani ,
Azizi Ali  and
Fatin Izzati Minhat
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Baharim Mustapa
Affiliation:
Centre of Research and Field Services (CRaFS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Rafidah Razali
Affiliation:
Centre of Research and Field Services (CRaFS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed
Affiliation:
UZMA Archaeological Research Sdn. Bhd., Uzma Tower, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Badri Shah Abdul Ghani
Affiliation:
UZMA Archaeological Research Sdn. Bhd., Uzma Tower, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Muhazam Mohamed
Affiliation:
UZMA Archaeological Research Sdn. Bhd., Uzma Tower, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Ruzairy Arbi
Affiliation:
Archaeology Unit, Department of National Heritage, Blok A and B, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Farizah Ideris
Affiliation:
Archaeology Unit, Department of National Heritage, Blok A and B, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Khairil Amri Abd Ghani
Affiliation:
Archaeology Unit, Department of National Heritage, Blok A and B, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Azizi Ali
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Fatin Izzati Minhat
Affiliation:
Paleoceanography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Muhammad Hafeez Jeofry
Affiliation:
Paleoceanography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Baszley Bee Basrah Bee
Affiliation:
History Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Hasrizal Shaari*
Affiliation:
Paleoceanography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
*
(Hasrizal Shaari: riz@umt.edu.my, corresponding author)
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Abstract

Underwater archaeological research has been developed less aggressively in Malaysia than in other ASEAN partner countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In past decades, financial constraints have limited the development of underwater archaeology, and the field has been dominated by commercial salvage experts. Malaysia has not addressed many issues or fundamental problems related to future development. The discovery of the Bidong Shipwreck in 2013 has raised hopes that underwater archaeological research in Malaysia will develop more dynamically. The successful excavation of this shipwreck site proves that local experts can conduct scientific excavations. This article presents and discusses the discovery and process of excavating artifacts from the Bidong Shipwreck. The project outcomes provide a guide for stakeholders and agencies involved in future underwater excavations in Malaysian waters.

La investigación arqueológica submarina se ha desarrollado con menos agresividad en Malasia que en otros socios de la ASEAN, como Indonesia, Tailandia, Vietnam, y Filipinas. En décadas pasadas, las restricciones financieras han limitado el desarrollo de la arqueología subacuática y el campo ha estado dominado por expertos en salvamento comercial. Malasia no ha abordado muchas cuestiones o problemas fundamentales relacionados con el desarrollo futuro. El descubrimiento del naufragio de Bidong en 2013 ha generado esperanzas de que la investigación arqueológica submarina en Malasia se desarrolle de manera más dinámica. La excavación exitosa de este sitio de naufragio demuestra que los expertos locales pueden realizar excavaciones científicas. Este artículo presenta y analiza el descubrimiento y el proceso de excavación de artefactos del naufragio de Bidong. Los resultados del proyecto proporcionan una guía para las partes interesadas y las agencias involucradas en futuras excavaciones submarinas en aguas de Malasia.

Keywords

underwater archaeologystonewareSouth China SeaTerengganuarqueología submarinagresMar de China MeridionalTerengganu
Type
Article
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , May 2023 , pp. 246 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for American Archaeology

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