Uncovering Singapore

Early inquires and studies of Singapore’s past are often embroiled in the myths and legends surrounding the origins of the island. There are several texts that refer to early occupation and settlements in Singapore.  Foremost are the Chinese records from the 14th century, which speak of the island of Danmaxi or Temasek. The second principal written source is the Sejarah Melayu (the Malay Annals), a 17th century genealogical chronology of Malay kings; it relays the legend about the prince who was so captivated by the beautiful sandy beach of Temasek that he ventured over from Bintan island to established the city Singapura.  The settlement was named after a mythical beast he allegedly encountered on the island.

Aside from the Malay annals, which abound with mythical beasts and legendary warriors, there is little else documenting the everyday life of the people who lived on the island – and archaeology can provide some of that information.  Early archaeological probes revolved around these topics: who was this mysterious individual who came to this island and built a city? Was there evidence for a city? How large was the city? Who were these pre-modern Singaporeans? How were their lives like? What did they do for a living? What did they do for recreation? What did they eat? Who did they interact with?

In Singapore, archaeologists have identified several broad chronological periods of past activities and occupation.

Neolithic Period (New Stone Age c. 2,000 years ago)

In the late 19th century and mid 20th century, European researchers from the Raffles Museum in Singapore reported that Neolithic stone tools and implements were found along the former shorelines of Tuas and Pulau Ubin. However, these purported implements were not recovered from excavations but rather as chance surface finds lacking archaeological context. Still, Singapore’s proximity to known prehistoric Neolithic sites across the strait in Johore may potentially yield remains from this period of early human migration and habitation. This is one subfield of archaeology that has yet to be seriously explored.

Pre-modern Period: Temasek / Singapura (c.1300 – c.1650s)

Excavations since 1984 revealed large amounts of artifacts dating to the Temasek or Singapura period. The archaeology of this period demonstrated a thriving port settlement importing large quantities of ceramics for local consumption and perhaps re-exporting to other regional settlements in the Riau Archipelago. The archaeological evidence reshaped the historical chronology of Singapore, debunking the common perception that the island’s history began only in 1819 with the arrival of the Europeans – but extended back to around 1300 CE, approximately five hundred years prior to the establishment of the East India Company factory.

Colonial Period (1819 – 1959)

It is not the primary job of an archaeologist to prove or disprove historical accounts. Rather, archaeologists complement historical interpretations and narratives. They provide a different story – sometimes similar, but many times very different and far more diverse. Often, archaeologists add very important details not unlike crime scene investigators who look for, analyze, and interpret different sets of evidence than what was reported by only a few people. Over the years, some fifteen sites from the colonial period have been investigated and the artifacts uncovered provided insights to the social practices, trends and behavior that are not typically addressed in written sources or by historians.

Contemporary Period (1959 – Present)

Singapore’s frantic pace for development and redevelopment resulted in only a few pristine sites left dating from the last 50 years for archaeological study. Ironically, it is actually easier to locate sites from the Second World War or pre-modern Temasek period than finding undisturbed sites from the 1960s, 1970s and even 1980s! The sites from the contemporary period feature the vestiges from a rural agricultural community; they also showcase the period of industrialization, village communities, and early post-war housing settlements.  All of these present potential for archaeological research into the lifeways of the not too distant but yet forgotten past.