• Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage
• MY close

Archaeology is the scientific study of the remnants of human civilization, and involves exploring the lives of ancient peoples by examining their waste. Numerous researchers proposed numerous methods and ideas for the (semi or automated) reconstruction of a (usually large) number of broken irregular fragments. Hence, this paper aims to provide an in-depth review of the most notable publications on computer applications related to the area of classification and reconstruction of archaeological pottery fragments using two-dimensional images during the period between the early 1970s and 2014. The considered publications were classified on the basis of the study type, which is divided into two categories: studies that focus on classification of ancient fragments into groups, and those that focus on the reconstruction of archaeological fragments. This paper reviews and analyzes the most relevant works published according to the extracted features, classification processes involved, matching techniques that have been implemented for the restoration of pottery objects to their original form, as well as the yielded results.

The disposal of sludge from water treatment operations has become a major problem in Malaysia. The problem becomes acute because of scarcity of space for installation of sludge treatment facilities and disposal of treated sludge. Traditionally, treated sludge from water treatment plant will be sent to landfill for disposal. This method does not benefit anybody besides creating other problems. Instead of considering it as a waste, sludge must be considered as a quality by-product that can be changed into beneficial product for consumer. As a pilot study, this research only emphasize on characterization of water treatment sludge and its behaviour when mixed with clay. Mineralogical compositions were determined using XRD, XRF for chemical composition and physical testing including Atterberg limit test and particles size distribution. Identification of beneficial usage is based on the characteristics of water treatment sludge. Keywords : chemical composition; mineral composition; physical characteristics; pottery product; water sludge.

Sayong clay is a material for craft making of the traditional pottery in Malaysia. The pottery work crafted as a water vessel adapting the form of pumpkin/bottle gourd is called Labu Sayong. Further inspired by the nature, the decoration on Labu Sayong body used the flora and fauna as main motif. In this present work, a hypothetical framework of using advanced luminescent materials was proposed to underline the study on how the existing decoration can be enhanced further by using the luminescent effect. A comprehensive review in observing the current ceramic based luminescent materials was carried out and proposed as part of the framework. In this framework, the understanding of the Labu Sayong decoration will be also investigated to suit the luminescent effect. Finally, this framework will allow other researches to embark on this study and thus reviving the Malaysia national heritage of Labu Sayong.

Archaeological research has uncovered a wealth of data and significant information which particularly helped the country to have its early history accurately known. This study investigated the prehistoric and proto-historic period in Kedah based on previous research. The results of the study inspired various ideas about date and chronology, technology advancement, commerce, religious beliefs and social life. This study also found various excavation sites which have been identified as prehistoric and proto-historic sites. This study referred to previous research and has listed the prehistoric and proto-historic sites. The research was conducted using field research and library resources. The study revealed that, in research and excavation sites, various artefacts such as pottery, porcelain, stone, beads, glass, skeletons, temple objects and others have been found. In addition, issues such as religion, epigraphy, iconography, temples, trade and Indianisation process were also discussed and linked together with a variety of artefacts that were found in every excavation site. With the help of the government particularly and the private sector generally, the opening of the archaeological sites by local and foreign archaeological researchers has been made possible. Such studies have helped to add evidence to the history, civilisation and progress of the ancient society particularly in Kedah and Malaysia in general.

Candi Kampung Baru is situated in the Kampung Baru Archaeological Site, and it is one of the temple sites that used bricks as the main construction material. Based on the Global Positioning System, Candi Kampung Baru is located at N 05.58215°, E 100. 38004°. Apart from bricks, granite stones were also used as the pillar base of the construction’s structure. This study is an analytical approach on the pottery properties of clays discovered at the Kampung Baru Archaeological Site. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and physical analysis have been performed on these potsherds. 15 pottery shard samples were analysed to determine the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the pottery shards. The results indicate a local provenance of these samples. The mineral content in the pottery samples also indicate the presence of minerals, such as quartz, illite, datolite and microcline. Furthermore, the physical analysis conducted uncovered a variety of motifs that adorned the earthenware, such as lines, nets, square and floral motifs. The mineral content and physical observation of the pottery shards indicate that the open burning technique was used to produce these pottery shards due to the presence of illite mineral in the pottery shards. The mineral content (namely illite) also shows that the samples were baked at a temperature between 650°C and 750°C. The content of the major and trace elements also proves that these potteries were produced from the same source and it is proposed that local raw materials were used in the production of the potteries, from which the nearest source that could be detected is at the Muda River basin. Moreover, the involvement of the local community in producing the potteries should not be refuted, as this proves that the knowledge of producing pottery by the local community had already started since the evolution of the Neolithic culture at the Muda River basin since 4000 to 5000 years ago.

Bukit Tengkorak (Scull Hill) is a Neolithic period rock shelter complex and prehistoric pottery production site in southeastern Sabah, about 5 miles southwest of Semporna in Borneo, Malaysia at GPS N 4 7 20.08 and E 118 37 04.3. It was excavated for a 5-week season in 1995 and another in 1994 by a joint University of Science and Sabah Museum team under the direction of S. Chia. Two areas with volcanic outcrops about 10 meters apart were excavated. A total of 6 one-meter squares, three in each area, were excavated in 5 cm layers. The three rock shelter trenches, G17, G19 and J19, were excavated to the base of undisturbed cultural deposits, about one and one half meters deep. The main archaeological materials excavated from these squares comprised pottery sherds, stone tools, molluscs and fish and animal bones. Thick layers of ash, measuring 50 to 80 cm, were associated with the pottery sherds in the three rock shelter squares, suggesting that they could have been the remnant of an open pit kiln or pit kilns used for firing the pottery. In the lower outcrop, the three trenches R13, S37 and T38, were excavated near earlier archaeological excavation by Bellwood (1). Our excavation in this area revealed large deposits of clays not found elsewhere in this locale that were probably brought to the shelter to be used as raw material for making pottery. No food remains such as animal and fish bones or unworked shells were found in this area, leading credence to the interpretation of this as a craft working area for the production of pottery and stone and shell tools.

The aim of this study is to determine whether pottery shards from Shah-I Sokhta especially the shards with red and gray in color are locally made or imported from elsewhere. Shah-I Sokhta is one of the most ancient settlement in Iranian Sistan and has been occupied by human since more than 5000 years ago. Based on archaeological excavations, the most ancient layer, considered as Period I, shows southern Turkmenian influences evidenced by clay figurines and pottery vessels similar to those of Namazga III period. The second period of occupation is dated between 2800 and 2500 BC. The first half of period III, ca. 2500-2200 BC, seems to be an continuation of the social changes of period II, but during the second part of period III signs of social/economical decline and environmental changes began to appear, leading to a great reduction of surface of the site in period IV (2200-1800 BC). By the end of period IV Shahr-I Sokhta was completely abandoned. Archaeological excavations also unearth thousand of pottery shards which are buff, grey and red in color which are mostly shards from broken bowls, jars, beakers and dishes. Archaeologists believe that most of the buff pottery shards are locally made; hence to determine whether this hypothesis is true, a scientific analysis was done to determine the chemical compositions of the pottery shards. The technique involved X-Rays Fluorescence (XRF) equipment which was applied to determine the major and trace elements of the pottery shards. The results shows that most of the pottery shards are in the same group and this strongly suggest that they are local products. Additionally, based on the major and trace elements, it can be suggested that sample 18259-9, 18265-10, 18266-13, 18271-15 and 18273-4 are not locally made and the surface of these potteries are buff and red in color.

The reconstruction of archaeological fragments in 3D geometry is an important problem in pattern recognition and computer vision. Therefore, we implement an algorithm with the help of a 3D model to perform reconstruction from the real datasets using the slope features. This approach avoids the problem of gaps created through the loss of parts of the artifacts. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assemble the object without previous knowledge about the form of the original object. We utilize the edges of the fragments as an important feature in reconstructing the objects and apply multiple procedures to extract the 3D edge points. In order to assign the positions of the unknown parts that are supposed to match, the contour must be divided into four parts. Furthermore, to classify the fragments under reconstruction, we apply a backpropagation neural network. We test the algorithm on several models of ceramic fragments. It achieves highly accurate results in reconstructing the objects into their original forms, in spite of absent pieces.

Malaysia is one of the countries known with works of art especially the invaluable handicraft. The earliest creation of works of art crafted by human in this country existed since prehistoric age. Discovery of artifacts such as potsherds, weapons, ornaments and cooking utensils was a proof that human at that time had begun producing pots from clay, involved in handworks, carving and boat making. This discovery was an indication that the earlier human inhabitants were closely related to environment, and they can create utilitarian items using their creative thinking, technology and material from nature. One of Malay heritage crafts produced using technology is pottery. There are 3 types of pottery namely Mambong, Labu Tanah (clay pitcher) and Terenang. The first pottery showing form which stresses the predisposition of clay material and hand forming technique in producing pottery for cooking and mostly produced in Mambong, Kelantan. The second pottery was inspired by a gourd or pumpkin and developed to various forms of clay pitchers produced in Sayong and Pulau Tiga, Perak. The third pottery on the other hand was similar to metal form such as Terenang from Tembeling, Pahang. To ensure the survival of art heritage, various technologies were used in the production. The question is, what technology being used to achieve the objective? To get the answer, the researcher used qualitative descriptive research method which involved written data collection or visual data collection such as interview and observation. The result of the research showed that technology is indeed the root to the survival of those potteries. This can be seen through 4 major manufacturing aspect; Firstly the preparation of clay using human strength and plunger machine. Secondly, pottery forming using hands and moulds. The third aspect is the decoration techniques using various tools. Last but not least is the firing technology using kiln and firing in open trenches. It is hoped that this research will explain that Malay pottery heritage of Malaysia had gone through invaluable process of technology. It is indirectly saying that no matter what technology being used, it is none other than for the everlasting identity of Malay heritage.