Early Architectural Images from Muara Jambi on Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Nine terracotta bricks and brick fragments, containing incised drawings of different types of buildings, were discovered at the large Muara Jambi temple complex in eastern Sumatra. Likely dating from between the second half of the ninth and the first half of the fourteenth centuries, these bricks contain the oldest graphic representations of Sumatran architecture. While two of these designs have been previously published, the brick images have not been thoroughly analyzed in order to determine what new light they shed on the domestic architecture and building traditions of early lowland Sumatran settlements. To address this lacuna, we analyze the bricks and their archaeological context in order to interpret when the images were made, who created the images, the purpose behind them, the types of architecture depicted on the bricks, and the reasons behind the diversity of building types represented. Having argued that the majority of bricks shows domestic architecture reflecting a variety of cultural influences, we conclude by suggesting that the presence of such images supports the scholarly view that Muara Jambi was a multiethnic trading community.

The Characteristics Linkage Among Austronesian Houses

“…Boechori (2012) said that the founder of the Mataram Kingdom in Java was a Malay from Akhandalapura (spesifically from Central Sumatra), as can be proven in the Malay-language Sojomerto Inscription; his name is Dapunta Selendra. Some Figures of houses on fragments at Muaro Jambi Temple are similar to traditional houses in Central and South Sumatra (Tjoa-Bonatz et al 2009).…”

The effect of volcanism on submontane rainforest vegetation composition: Paleoecological evidence from Danau Njalau, Sumatra (Indonesia)

“…Afterward, the settlement history in the Kerinci area is marked by the ‘Megalithic period’ which lasted from the late 10th century until the 14th century AD (900–1300 yr BP) and had its peak during the 12th century AD (1100 yr BP; Bonatz et al, 2006; Tjoa-Bonatz et al, 2009). What is left of this culture is outstanding stone megaliths and burial jars as well as remnant of single stones which are usually placed in connection to a house in a small-scale settlement.…”

Pendekatan Lingkungan Lokasi Candi-candi Masa Kerajaan Sriwijaya di Sumatera

“…Secara umum, candi-candi yang terdapat di Muara Jambi adalah candi batubata atau disebut juga candi kayu (Tjoa-Bonatz, 2009, Ardiansyah dan Sedoputra, 2017, dan Siswanto et.al 2017. Disebut candi kayu karena diperkirakan atap dari candi batubata atau di bagian atas dari candi adalah konstruksi kayu seperti candi-candi di Bali saat ini.…”