It’s official; the earlier and oldest civilisation — not just in Malaysia but across Southeast Asia — is in Kedah, the state which hosts ruins of the ancient Bujang Valley civilisation, where iron smelters and exporters thrived between 2,000 and 2,500 years ago.
Five archaeological experts, representing five world civilisations, namely Mesopotamia, Indus, Mesoamerica, China and Greek-Rome have officially give the honour to the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, the site where the earliest human-built structures have been found.
Five of them signed a plaque presented by Oxford University archaeologist Prof Dr Stephen Oppenheimer to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Global archaeological Research Centre director Prof Datuk Dr Mokhtar Saidin today.
“Unfortunately, Egyptian archaeological expert Dr Zahi Hawas, did not attend the Kedah Tua International Conference, so we did not get his signature on the plaque,” Dr Mokhtar was quoted as saying in a report by Bernama.
“He was supposed to attend the conference, but we could not contact him at the last minute. If it is necessary for us to go to Egypt and get his signature, we will go there,” he was quoted further.
READ: Ancient objects discovered at orchard in Kedah
According to the New Straits Times, archaeologists have found wrecks of ancient ships embedded in the muddy floor of what used to be an ancient river that flowed through the historical site of Kedah Tua (old Kedah) — evidence that a seaport called Kataha had once thrived.
