EARTHENWARE POTTERY REMAINS one of the most significant indicators of technological and cultural development in prehistoric societies, particularly during the Neolithic period. In Malaysia, the Neolithic culture is believed to have begun around 4,000 to 4,500 years ago, and is represented by more than 100 archaeological sites across the country. This culture is characterised by features such as extended burials and artefacts like earthenware pottery, polished stone tools (adze), bark beaters as well as stone and shell bracelets. Broadly, the Neolithic culture in Malaysia shares many similarities with those found in other parts of Southeast Asia.

Neolithic sites in Malaysia are primarily found in caves and rock shelters, while others are found at open-air sites along riverbanks. The former were commonly used as habitation areas or for burial purposes; the latter, often situated near water sources, tended to serve as habitation areas, indicating that these communities’ strategic settlement patterns were linked to resource availability. These sites often reveal evidence and remains of Neolithic culture in the upper layers of the site floor in the form of pottery shards, stone tools, bark beaters, food remains and sometimes, extended burials.

Prehistoric pottery in Malaysia is generally characterised by a range of surface treatments and vessel forms that reflect both utilitarian and cultural functions within early societies. The most commonly identified types include plain, cord-marked and red-slipped wares. Plain pottery refers to vessels with smooth, undecorated surfaces, likely used for daily domestic purposes such as cooking or storage; cord-marked pottery features impressions made by pressing twisted cords onto the clay surface before firing, a technique that may have served both decorative and functional purposes such as improving grip or heat resistance. Red-slipped pottery—distinguished by a thin layer of red ochre or iron-rich clay applied before firing—suggests a higher level of craftsmanship, and may have been associated with ritual or ceremonial uses.

The forms of prehistoric pottery are equally diverse, typically including beakers, tripods, cups, bowls, jars, round-bottomed vessels and footed containers. Such variety points to a well-developed pottery tradition, with vessels tailored for different functions, ranging from food preparation and consumption to storage and possibly even ritual offerings. Tripod vessels and footed containers, in particular, may indicate social or symbolic meanings, as their elaborate forms are less suited to simple utilitarian use.

In Malaysia, prehistoric pottery is often discovered in fragments, scattered across habitation sites, burial caves and riverine settlements. The incomplete nature of these finds may be attributed to natural breakage over time or deliberate fragmentation during burial rites. Despite their fragmentary state, these pottery pieces provide valuable insights into prehistoric technological knowledge, aesthetic preferences, daily practices, and the evolving social and cultural landscapes of early communities in the region.

Common characteristics of prehistoric pottery in Malaysia include the following:

1. Handmade using coiling, joining and paddling techniques before the invention of the potter’s wheel.

2. Fired at low temperatures, which made them relatively fragile, but sufficient for daily use.

3. Surface decorations included redslipped, impressed patterns, incised lines and a combination of incised and impressed patterns.

4. Functioned as storage vessels, cooking pots and burial urns.

Recent Discoveries of Neolithic Pottery

BUKIT KOMEL

In 2022, an archaeological excavation conducted by USM uncovered evidence of Neolithic culture at the Bukit Komel site in Ulu Tembeling, Pahang. The excavation revealed a cluster of pottery shards found alongside stone tools, including polished adzes.

Recent studies using geochemical and mineralogical analyses reveal that the Bukit Komel pottery was locally made using raw materials sourced from Sungai Tembeling. The pottery is handmade, likely using the paddle and anvil technique. Decorative features such as impressed and gouged marks suggest the use of carved paddles and sharp tools possibly made from wood or stone. Sand and grog were used as tempering materials, and the pottery was fired at low temperatures using an open-firing method.

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating indicates that the pottery is between 4,200 and 4,300 years old, making it the oldest-known Neolithic pottery discovery in Peninsular Malaysia to date.

GUAR KEPAH

Recent scientific research conducted by USM on pottery from Guar Kepah has further enriched our understanding of Neolithic pottery technology. The comprehensive study identified the presence of red-slipped pottery as well as vessels decorated with incised lines and impressed patterns.

Several fragments, including parts of handles, spouts and rim sherds, were also discovered, suggesting the use of more complex vessel forms and functional designs. A series of compositional and comparative analyses are underway to identify the technological practices and origin of the Guar Kepah pottery. Furthermore, OSL dating will be used to provide a chronological framework and help explore cultural affiliations with other shell midden sites across Southeast Asia.

BUKIT CHORAS

Beyond the prehistoric period, earthenware pottery has also been found at Bukit Choras, a site dated to approximately 1,200 years ago, and located at the northernmost edge of the Bujang Valley. Pottery found at Bukit Choras are generally plain and coarse surfaced.

A particularly intriguing pottery sherd was found bearing carvings in the Pallava script, a writing system used around the 7th century CE, and associated with the Srivijaya Kingdom. Notably, the script is inscribed on the interior of the vessel near the rim, a rare and possibly symbolic placement. This artefact is considered unique, and may hold considerable aesthetic and cultural significance.

Studies are currently being conducted to investigate the technological aspects and provenance of the Bukit Choras pottery as well as to understand its production methods and raw material sources. Additionally, OSL dating will be applied to determine the chronometric age of the site, thereby aiding in the reconstruction of its cultural chronology and establishing potential connections with other contemporaneous sites across Southeast Asia.

The study of earthenware pottery in Malaysia provides crucial insights into the technological capabilities, cultural practices and social dynamics of prehistoric and early historic communities. From the widespread presence of Neolithic pottery at cave and riverine sites to the more complex forms and decorative techniques identified through recent excavations and scientific analyses, these ceramic artefacts reveal a rich tradition of craftsmanship and functional design.

The diversity in forms and surface treatments reflects both practical uses and symbolic expressions, offering a window into the everyday lives and belief systems of early populations. Notably, discoveries such as those at Bukit Komel and Guar Kepah have extended our understanding of early pottery technologies, while the unique inscribed sherd from Bukit Choras highlights the continuity and transformation of pottery traditions into later historical periods. Together, these findings underscore the significance of pottery as both a cultural marker and a material link to Malaysia’s deep archaeological past.

IMAGE SOURCES

1. Centre for Global Archaeological Research. 2025. Images of archaeological sites and artefacts from 2022 to 2025. CGAR, USM.

2. Lenggong Geopark. 2025. Image of Gua Harimau archaeological site. Retrieved from https://lenggonggeopark.com/packages/gua-harimau

3. National Museum Kuala Lumpur. 2014. Collection of prehistoric pottery in the museum and repository. Collection Unit, National Museum Kuala Lumpur.

4. Sarawak Museum Department. 2013. Collection of prehistoric pottery in the museum and repository. Archaeology Unit, Sarawak Museum Department.

REFERENCES

1. Chia, S. 2016. Arkeologi Bukit Tengkorak, Sabah. Pulau Pinang: Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia.

2. Siti Hajar Salleh, Suresh Narayanen, Nasha Rodziadi Khaw & Nazaruddin Zainun. 2025. Analisis Fizikal, Motif dan Teknologi Tembikar Tanah Bukit Choras, Kedah. Jurnal Arkeologi Malaysia 38(1): 49-65.

3. Suresh Narayanen. 2017. Past and present pottery-making traditions in Malaysia: An ethnoarchaeological perspective. Tesis Doktor Falsafah, Universiti Sains Malaysia.