Pre-fourteenth Century Settlement Patterns in the Lower Batanghari, Jambi Province, Sumatra
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Date
2015-01-26
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Abstract
Complex societies had emerged in southeast Sumatra by at least the seventh century A.D.
These were Snvljaya and MelayuJambl, polities "lith centres in the lower Mus1 and Batangharr
respectively (Fig. 1, inset). Hrstoncal and archaeological material however. rndr cate that the reg~ on was
already 1n contact w1th lnd1a from at least the early centuries A.D. (Bellrna and Glover 2004, Wolters
1967). While the importance of maritime trade, especially with China, is relatively well discussed, we
know little of the origins and nature of these societies. Archaeological research has focused mainly on.
eprgraphy, iconography of HinduBuddhrst art and architecture; long<Jistance marrtrme trade; and rrme
recent ly, cultural resource management concerns (see Mrksrc 1995). This research presents results of
a fulk:overage survey of the lower Batanghan bas1n. Its primary objeCtive rs to isolate patterns that can
inform on pre-fourteenth century settlement system. A second aim is to evaluate the utility of surveys in
an ervironment such as the lmver Batanghari. Regional surveys have generally been in arid and semiarid
areas where archaeologrcal remains tend to be highly visible, namely the Amerrcan southwest and
the Near East New World archaeologists have, however, modifed and applied such field techniques in
heavrly vegetated areas wrth measurable success (e g , Lightfoot 1986) The project was also a freld
school for students from Universitas Udayana, Bali. and the National University of Singapore.