The Discovery and Excavation of Artefacts from Pulau Melaka Reclamation Land, Malaysia

The accidental discovery of wood fragments in a reclaimed area near Pulau Melaka by a group of independent researchers at the end of 2020 caught the attention of the National Heritage Department (JWN) and Melaka Museum Corporation (PERZIM). This is the first discovery ever where the wood fragments were found in a reclaimed land in Malaysia. Furthermore, these wood fragments were expected to be part of the ancient shipwreck structure, which was supposed to be the transitional period between the Melaka Malay Sultanate and Portuguese occupation between the late 15th to early 16th centuries. However, since these findings were discovered on reclaimed land, it is highly questionable whether the integrity of its original context is still preserved. Thus, several aspects have been considered such as suitable preliminary surveying methods, effective excavation procedures and subsequently the analysis of the recovered artefacts and wood fragments. This article discusses the discovery and process of surveying and initial excavation of the Pulau Melaka archaeological site. The outcomes of this study provide a guideline for future archaeological excavation on reclaimed land or any other disturbed environment in Malaysia.