ANALISIS FIZIKAL, MOTIF DAN TEKNOLOGI TEMBIKAR TANAH BUKIT CHORAS, KEDAH (PHYSICAL ANALYSIS, MOTIFS AND TECHNOLOGY OF BUKIT CHORAS EARTHENWARE, KEDAH)
Abstract
Abstrak
Artikel ini membincangkan tentang hasil analisis fizikal dan motif tembikar tanah dari Bukit Choras, Yan, Kedah. Bukit Choras merupakan satu-satunya tapak candi zaman protosejarah terletak di utara Gunung Jerai iaitu di luar kawasan lembah Sungai Merbok dan Sungai Muda. Ekskavasi arkeologi yang dijalankan di Bukit Choras oleh Universiti Sains Malaysia pada tahun 2023 dan 2024 telah menjumpai 18 serpihan tembikar tanah yang dianalisis menggunakan kaedah klasifikasi dan morfologi. Hasil analisis klasifikasi mendapati kebanyakan serpihan tembikar terdiri daripada pecahan bahagian badan dan bibir. Motif tembikar dikelaskan kepada dua kategori iaitu tembikar bercorak (garisan selari) dan tembikar tidak bercorak (polos). Tambahan pula, satu serpihan tembikar yang diukir dalam tulisan purba, kemungkinan menggunakan aksara Pallava telah ditemui di Bukit Choras. Analisis profil warna tembikar mengesahkan tembikar Bukit Choras telah dibakar pada suhu yang rendah menggunakan teknik pembakaran terbuka. Analisis saintifik awalan menunjukkan teknologi tembikar Bukit Choras mungkin melibatkan beberapa teknik seperti lilitan tangan, ‘paddle and anvil’ dan pasir digunakan sebagai bahan pewaja. Dari segi fungsi, tembikar mungkin telah digunakan sebagai wadah untuk menyimpan air atau bagi tujuan ritual serta keagamaan. Secara keseluruhannya, kajian ini telah menyumbang data dan maklumat penting tentang ciri-ciri fizikal, motif dan teknologi yang digunakan dalam pembuatan tembikar Bukit Choras sekitar 1,200 tahun yang dahulu.
Kata kunci: tembikar tanah, Bukit Choras, analisis fizikal, motif, teknologi
Abstract
This article discusses the results of the physical analysis and motifs of earthenware pottery from Bukit Choras, Yan, Kedah. Bukit Choras is the only protohistoric temple site situated north of Gunung Jerai, outside the areas of the Merbok River and Muda River valleys. Archaeological excavations conducted at Bukit Choras in 2023 and 2024 by Universiti Sains Malaysia yielded 18 pieces of earthenware pottery, which were studied using classification and morphological methods. The classification analysis revealed that Bukit Choras earthenware pottery is primarily composed of body and rim fragments. The motifs can be classified into two categories, namely decorated pottery (parallel lines) and undecorated pottery (plain). Furthermore, a pottery fragment inscribed in an old language, possibly using the Pallava script, was discovered at Bukit Choras. Pottery colour analysis confirms that the Bukit Choras pottery was fired at low temperatures using an open firing technique. Preliminary scientific study suggests that Bukit Choras pottery technology may involve several techniques, for instance hand-coiling and paddle and anvil methods with sand as the tempering material. In terms of function, the pottery may have been used to store water or for ritual and religious purposes. Overall, this study has provided significant data and information on the physical characteristics, motifs and technology used to manufacture the Bukit Choras pottery around 1,200 years ago.
Keywords: Earthenware, Bukit Choras, physical analysis, motifs, technologyFull Text:
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IKATAN AHLI ARKEOLOGI MALAYSIA
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