The Past And Present Pottery In Semporna, Sabah
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Date
2011-07
Authors
Narayanen, Suresh
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Ethnoarchaeological research on Bajau pottery-making in Semporna, Sabah was carried out in 2009 by the author under the Center for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang in collaboration with the Sandakan Museum, Sabah. The research consists of three seasons of survey and study of the remaining potting islands and villages in order to obtain data on the technologies, types, functions and economic value of Bajau pottery. These data was compared with the prehistoric pottery of Bukit Tengkorak excavated in 1998, mainly to determine the similarities and differences possessed by the two different periods of pottery in Semporna. In addition, the research was also aimed at studying the genealogy of the Bajau potters.
The comparative study between the Bukit Tengkorak and Bajau pottery was done using the morphological and compositional analyses. The results of the analyses revealed that both the past and present pottery in Semporna bear close similarities in terms of manufacturing technology, vessel types and forms, and decorations. The difference, on the other hand, was only observed in surface decoration. For instance, some of the decorations that were found among the Bukit Tengkorak pottery but was absent in Bajau pottery-making are pottery with red-slip coating, cord-marked and checked impression designs. None of the Bajau potters including the ex-potters have knowledge in making the red-slipped pottery and the other two types of impression decorations mentioned above.
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Keywords
The past and present pottery , in semporna, sabah