Authors : Adnan Jusoh, Yunus Sauman, Nik Hassan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman and Zuliskandar Ramli
Abstract: In Malaysia, Metal Age can be divided into two periods which are the Bronze and the Iron Age. Based on archaeological findings associated with the Metal Age sites in Malaysia, Metal Age can be dated from 500 BC to 500 AD. The most significant finding of the Bronze Age is the artefacts made from bronze such as drums, bowls or bells. In this study, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) was used to determine the content of the elements that exist in the bronze artefacts. Five samples which are the bronze drums from Kampung Batu Buruk, Klang and Kampung Sungai Sedu, bronze bowl from terengganu and bronze bell from Klang were taken for analysis. The results show that the content of copper (Cu) is the highest element in all bronze artefacts that were analysed. The ratio of elements from the four samples that are from Kampung Batu Buruk, Kampung Sungai Sedu and Klang shows that the ratio of Cu>Pb>Sn>Fe whilst the bronze bowl from Terengganu shows ratio of Cu>Fe>Sn>Pb. Indirectly, the analysis shows that the metal content of the bronze drums and bell is almost identical in which copper and lead are the highest metal content in both the artefacts. On the contrary, in the bronze bowl, it was found that the metal content with the highest number is copper and iron. Basically, the distribution of bronze artefacts in the country is due to the push and pull factors described. This is because there is no evidence to show that products made of bronze, as analyzed in this study, were produced by the local community.
Adnan Jusoh, Yunus Sauman, Nik Hassan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman and Zuliskandar Ramli, 2012. Scientific Analysis of Samples of Some Artefacts Metal Age in Malaysia. The Social Sciences, 7: 772-777.