User:Mike ar Rawi

Sungai Batu is part of Bujang Valley but due to a monumental discovery over past years, it has to be written in a separate subject. The rational of these, since the research team from Centre of Global Archaeological (CGAR or PPAG) of University Science of Malaysia takes place, it has widen the research area of Bujang Valley from about 200 km square to more than 400 km square and has potentially to expand more.

Sungai Batu had been recognised as the earliest civilisation in South East Asia. It was dated as early as 788 BCE. Iron smelting was the core activity of Sungai Batu society.For record, iron age begins by 1200 BCE in Meditterranean and Middle East. Looking at the numbers of smelting sites, and the span of centuries where the iron smelting industries goes on, there were no doubt, Sungai Batu sites had produced enormous amount of iron, particularly iron ingot.

The excavation also discovered several wharfs, administration buildings,harbour-master office, warehouses, almost a dozen of submerged ships in the ancient river stream and the ritual monument has clearly indicates there was a systematic society had ruled Sungai Batu and the vast area Bujang Valley or Kedah Tua Ķingdom which also recorded by ancient rulers and explorers as Kataha, Kalah, Chie-Cha,Kalagam and some other names.

Within 2 kilometres radius, there were 50 sites had been excavated out of 97.

Apart of iron ingot as major commodity, it was believed from ancient manuscript that Sungai Batu was the second best sword producer in the world after Yemen. Al Kindi who lived in 8th Century, have wrote a research and mentioned the sword of Qala'i from Kalah was among the best in the world. Al Masu'di confirming that Qala"i sword was the sword made in the country called Qalah. Qalah or Kalah was the ancient name of Kedah where Sungai Batu located. Eventhough there are several places called Qalah, but only Qalah or Kalah in modern day Kedah involved in iron industry by that time.

The structure of the ritual monument distinguishes it from Chandi in Bukit Batu Pahat nearby the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum which were heavily influenced by Hindu / Buddhis. None of Hindu or Buddhis motives or artefact were found at Sungai Batu ritual monument.

The structure was build in two stages. The lowest which is circle with 10 metre radius was build in 1st Century (prior to 100 AD, while Borobudur 780 AD, Angkor Wat 1113 AD). The researchers have concluded it was belong to animisme religion but do not reject the idea of monotheisme.