An Expensive Way of Learning What We Already Know? Historical Archaeology in Melaka

Alvin Sern Hao Chua1*, Dionysius Shankar Kumar Sharma1, Shaiful Idzwan Shahidan2, Ruzairy bin Arbi3, and Mohamad Muda bin Bahadin3

Melaka not only occupies an important position in Malaysia’s national narrative but was also a major node in the global trade network during the early modern period. Melaka’s history is situated within the traditional scope of historical archaeology, making it suitable for the application of this sub-field’s methodology, i.e. the use of archaeological data alongside textual sources. Research on Melaka’s past has typically focused heavily on written sources. On the other hand, archaeological work at Melaka appears to be lacking, as highlighted by Miksic. Indeed, compared to Singapore, where the practice of modern archaeology was introduced by Miksic in 1984, and sustained over the decades that followed, archaeological research in Melaka pales in comparison. Nevertheless, archaeological (and antiquarian) investigations in Melaka were already conducted as early as the 1930s. Additionally, a series of excavations were carried out around the remains of Melaka’s Portuguese/Dutch fortifications between 2001 and 2012. In this paper, we will present the archaeological work that have been undertaken in Melaka, focusing in particular on the 2001-2012 excavations around the city’s fortifications. The latter will be based on data collected from unpublished site reports. In addition, we will present suggestions for future archaeological research in Melaka. In doing so, this paper aims to shed light on a major site whose archaeology has hitherto received limited attention from scholars, and to consider the ways by which the archaeological data could be utilised together with the written sources to enhance our understanding of Melaka’s history.