Study of prehistoric iron objects in Western Indonesia in the context of contacts between India and the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago

Abstract

The Early Metal Age in Indonesia is characterized by the introduction of new technologies, comprising copper-bronze and iron objects and their manufacturing technologies. This introduction occurred during the last few centuries BC (Bellwood, 1997). This phase overlaps chronologically with, and almost certainly merges into, the following phase characterized by the introduction of aspects of Indian culture which occurred during the first few centuries AD (Poesponegoro and Notosusanto, 1994). During this transitional phase, major cultural changes took place, but these changes are poorly documented. In previous research, bronze objects and their manufacturing technologies have received greater attention than iron. Almost all Indonesian archaeologists pay a lot of attention to bronze (e.g. Soejono (1972), Bintarti (1981), Soekatno (1981) and many more). Little is known about iron objects and their roles in society. This research is planned to help reduce this gap in knowledge. Iron objects, found in 22 prehistoric sites in Indonesia, reveal that various kinds of objects were used. They occur at 18 sites in Western Indonesia (14 in Java, two each in Sumatra and Bali), and four sites in Eastern Indonesia (three in Sulawesi and one in the Northern Moluccas). This suggests that iron objects were more widespread in Western Indonesia, especially in Java, although this could also reflect a higher density of archaeological research. Since the numbers of relatively complete iron objects in Indonesia are quite small (60 samples), the review and the classification of them will be conducted after the review and the classification of prehistoric iron objects from India (213 samples). The review and the classification of prehistoric iron objects from Malaysia (43 samples) is done after that, as iron objects from this region are better documented and better preserved than those of Indonesia. As a part of the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago, Malaysia is the closest region to Indonesia, suggesting a possibility of having similar iron objects. A review of recent iron working in Java and Bali will also be carried out to depict the technology for iron manufacture and the blacksmiths' status in recent times. Typological comparison of prehistoric iron objects from India, Malaysia and Indonesia will be carried out to find out similarities and differences between them. A statistical analysis will also be carried out, including the use of chi-square and tests, to find out whether prehistoric iron objects from the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago were made locally or were obtained from India or were placed in between. Show more