08 April 2025 – [Book Launch] Ancient Kedah: History, Archeology & New Narratives

[Book Launch] Ancient Kedah: History, Archeology & New Narratives

Join Dr. Nasha for the book launch as he explores Bukit Choras’ role in maritime trade, diplomacy, and Kedah’s regional influence.
–

DETAILS
[Book Launch] Ancient Kedah: History, Archeology & New Narratives
Speaker Dr. Nasha Rodziadi Khaw
Date: 8 April 2025, Tuesday
Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Moderator: Dr. Tan Lee Ooi

This event is hosted by Penang Institute and co-organised by George Town Literary Festival.

Registration: https://bit.ly/Ancient-Kedah

Please note: Registration is FREE! However, it is only required for in-person attendance. Online viewers do not need to register.
Join us in person or catch the live stream on Penang Institute’s Facebook and YouTube channels!

–
ABSTRACT
This talk will explore how Bukit Choras fits into the broader maritime cultural landscape of the region, considering evidence of long-distance interactions with South Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond. The site’s strategic coastal position, coupled with material evidence of religious and commercial activities, indicates that ancient Kedah was not only a recipient of foreign influences but an active agent in regional trade and diplomacy. By reframing Kedah within the context of a maritime polity, this discussion highlights its role as an adaptable and influential center that navigated shifting geopolitical currents. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the Bujang Valley civilization, emphasizing its complexity and agency in shaping early regional networks.

Recent Findings in the Bukit Choras Archaeological Site: (Re)Framing Ancient Kedah as a Regional Maritime Polity
The Bukit Choras archaeological site offers new insights into the complex sociopolitical and economic structures of ancient Kedah. Recent excavations at the site have revealed significant material culture, including architectural remains, ceramics, and inscriptions, that suggest Bukit Choras played a vital role in the region’s maritime trade networks. These findings challenge earlier interpretations of Kedah as merely a peripheral trading hub, instead positioning it as a dynamic, interconnected polity with significant autonomy.
–

SPEAKER

Dr. Nasha Rodziadi Khaw is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Global Archaeological Research at Universiti Sains Malaysia. He specializes in the field of Epigraphy Palaeography and Historical Archaeology, while current research interest focuses on the early historic coastal polities of Malay Peninsula. His works on ancient Kedah and challenges conventional narratives, emphasizing the region’s complex maritime networks and multicultural dynamism. He completed his PhD at the University of Peshawar, focusing on the Gandhara civilization. Dr. Nasha has led major excavations, including at Bukit Choras.

MODERATOR

Dr Tan Lee Ooi (陈利威)
Director of Research, Penang Institute
He obtained his PhD in Southeast Asia Studies from National University of Singapore. His main research interests are about cyber politics, religious modernity and contemporary Malaysian politics. He was formerly an academician in private higher education institutions. He has published two books and several academic journal articles. His first book was published by the Penerbit UKM on the dynamics of cyberspace during the Reformasi Movement, Dinamik Ruang Siber dalam Gerakan Reformasi di Malaysia in Malay language. His second book Buddhist Revitalization and Chinese Religions in Malaysia was published by the Amsterdam University Press. He also writes opinion pieces for local media on politics, culture and media in Malaysia.

EVENT SUMMARY

In conjunction with the launch of a new book titled Ancient Kedah: History, Archaeology & New Narratives, a public talk held at Penang Institute on 8 April 2025 shed new light on the significance of the Bukit Choras archaeological site in understanding ancient Kedah’s role in early regional maritime networks. The speaker, Associate Professor Dr. Nasha Rodziadi Khaw—Deputy Director of the Centre for Global Archaeological Research at Universiti Sains Malaysia—presented recent excavations and research that reframe Kedah not as a passive recipient of external influences, but as an active and strategic player in long-distance trade and diplomacy between two ancient powers, China and India.

The presentation showcased compelling evidence of complex sociopolitical and economic structures. Among the findings were architectural remnants, ceramics, and inscriptions that suggest the site was a significant religious and commercial hub in the ancient world. Bukit Choras’ coastal location further supports its role as a crucial node in a vast network linking South Asia, Southeast Asia, China and beyond.

The talk argued for a paradigm shift in how scholars understand the Bujang Valley civilization. Rather than viewing it as a marginal outpost, the evidence from Bukit Choras highlights Kedah’s adaptability and influence in navigating shifting geopolitical currents. By reframing Kedah as a maritime polity, the research presents a more nuanced and dynamic image of early state formation in the region. This fresh perspective underscores the importance of archaeological research in rewriting regional histories and understanding how early Southeast Asian societies engaged with global systems of exchange. The findings contribute significantly to the growing body of scholarship that positions the Bujang Valley as a major centre of trade, culture, and political agency in the ancient world.

LIVESTREAM