Perlis once a trading hub

Important discovery: A votive tablet that was found in Perlis. According to Siti Munirah (below), the tablets are either circular or pear-shaped lumps of clay with Buddhist images and inscriptions. — Bernama

Finding of votive tablets proves protohistoric settlement’s existence

KANGAR: The votive tablets discovered in Gua Berhala and Gua Kurong Batang are the physical evidence of the existence of a protohistoric community settlement in Perlis during the ninth century.

Kota Kayang Museum director Siti Munirah Kasim said the tablets were either circular or pear-shaped lumps of clay with Buddhist images and inscriptions.

The votive tablets were discovered by archaeologist Dr Alastair Lamb in 1962.

The inscriptions were studied and deciphered by Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, who is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

“The votive tablets are in good condition compared to the pieces found in Lembah Bujang, Kedah and in Gua Chawas, Kelantan,” Siti Munirah told Bernama.

She said the votive tablets were among the artefacts kept at the Kota Kayang Museum since it was opened to the public in 2000.

Protohistoric refers to the period when written records and oral traditions are scanty or inadequate.

Separately, Nasha said the votive tablets found in Perlis contained Buddhist texts that were not found in other sites in Malaysia.

He said the inscription texts which contained hymns were written in Sanskrit using Nagari characters.

Similar inscriptions were also found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tibet (China) and Java (Indonesia).

“In the context of the development of ancient Kedah, this discovery proves that it coincided with the development of Lembah Bujang.

“Perlis also served as one of the trading settlements and a stopover for Buddhist followers and monks,” he added.

Nasha said the discovery of the votive tablets also showed that Perlis had a very long history.

“When ancient Kedah was developing with its port centred in Lembah Bujang, the early communities in Perlis also had relationships with foreign traders at that time.

“This indirectly proves the importance of Perlis in terms of economy and geostrategic location in the ninth century,” he said.

State tourism committee chairman Wan Badariah Wan Saad said she hoped the ancient artefacts could be used as one of the attractions for visitors to Kota Kayang Museum in conjunction with Visit Perlis Year 2024-2025.

“There are still many fans of ancient artefacts who are still unaware of the existence of the votive tablets kept in the museum,” she said.