DONG SON DRUM IN MALAYSIA

The Dong Son drums found in Malaysia are significant archaeological artifacts that link the Malay Peninsula to the Iron Age Dong Son culture of Vietnam (c. 1000 BCE – 1st century CE). These drums, often classified as Heger Type I, highlight ancient maritime trade routes and the social hierarchy of the time.

Here are the details regarding the two specific discoveries you mentioned:

1. Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu (1964)

• Discovery: Found in 1964 at Kampung Batu Buruk by JKR (Public Works Department) workers during construction.
• The Artifacts: Two bronze drums (or fragments of them) were found together.
• Drum I: Smaller, with a tympanum diameter of approximately 55 cm.
• Drum II: Larger, with a diameter of roughly 72.05 cm.
• Decorative Motifs: These drums feature intricate designs common to the Dong Son style, including:
• A star motif (usually 10 to 12 points) in the center of the tympanum.
• Geometric patterns like tangential circles, triangles, and "sawtooth" (gergaji) lines.
• Stylized depictions of herons (burung pucung) and flying birds.
• Significance: Because they were found in pairs, archaeologists believe they may have been used for ritual purposes or as prestigious burial goods for high-status individuals.

2. Sungai Tembeling, Pahang (1926)

• Discovery: Found in 1926 near the banks of the Tembeling River.
• Historical Context: This is recognized as the earliest discovery of a Dong Son drum in Malaysia.
• Significance: Its location deep within the interior of Pahang suggests that these heavy bronze objects were transported via river networks, indicating a well-established trade system between the coast and the interior during the Metal Age.

Key Facts about Dong Son Drums in Malaysia

Feature	Details
Origin	Northern Vietnam (Red River Delta).
Material	Bronze (cast using the lost-wax technique).
Total Finds	Approximately 8–9 drums have been found across Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor).
Functions	Used as musical instruments for festivals, weddings, and funerals; also served as status symbols and war drums.
Classification	Most Malaysian finds are Heger Type I, the oldest and most elaborate category of these drums.

The discovery of these drums is often used by historians to prove that the Malay Peninsula was an active participant in the "Maritime Silk Road" long before the rise of the Melaka Sultanate.

DONG SON DRUM IN SELANGOR

In Selangor, four significant Dong Son bronze drums (or fragments of them) have been discovered. These finds are particularly famous because they were often uncovered alongside other grave goods, suggesting they were part of elaborate "boat burials" for high-status individuals.

The Selangor drums are all classified as Heger Type I, which is the oldest and most artistically complex style of Dong Son drums from Vietnam.

1. Kampung Sungai Lang, Kuala Langat (1964)

The discovery at Sungai Lang is perhaps the most famous archaeological find in Selangor. Two drums were found here in 1964, buried under a mound in a peat swamp.

• The Burial: These drums were found as part of a "boat burial." They were placed upside down on wooden planks (believed to be a canoe or boat) alongside 11 earthenware bowls and glass beads.
• Drum I (Large): Features a star motif with 10 points and concentric circles of geometric patterns.
• Drum II (Small): Features a star motif with 12 points.
• Motifs: Both drums are decorated with classic Dong Son imagery, including stylized flying birds (often identified as egrets or herons), tangential circles, and "sawtooth" patterns.

2. Kampung Bukit Kuda, Klang (1905/1944)

This drum is sometimes referred to simply as the Klang Drum. It was found on a small hill near the junction of the Klang and Rasau Rivers.

• Condition: Like many Malaysian finds, it was discovered as fragments rather than a complete vessel.
• Motifs: It features a 10-point star at the center of the tympanum. It is notable for its dotted circle motifs, which are less common on other Selangor drums.
• Significance: Its location near the Klang River highlights the importance of Selangor’s river systems in ancient maritime trade, especially as Klang was a known source of tin.

3. Kampung Sungai Sedu, Banting (1964)

A fourth drum was discovered in Kampung Sungai Sedu, near Banting, in the same year as the Sungai Lang discovery.

• Condition: This find was highly fragmented. The decorative motifs were difficult to determine due to the poor condition of the bronze, but it is confirmed to be of the same Dong Son lineage.

Comparison of Selangor Drum Motifs

Discovery Site	Number of Star Points	Key Motifs
Kg. Sungai Lang I	10 Points	Flying birds, tangential circles, triangles.
Kg. Sungai Lang II	12 Points	Geometric patterns, smaller dimensions.
Kg. Bukit Kuda (Klang)	10 Points	Dotted circles, star motif, "stair" patterns.
Kg. Sungai Sedu	Unclear	Heavily fragmented; confirmed Heger Type I.

Why were they in Selangor?

Archaeologists believe these drums were brought to Selangor via maritime trade between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The drums were likely exchanged for local resources—most notably tin from the Klang and Langat valleys. Their presence in burials indicates that local chiefs or elites adopted these prestigious Vietnamese objects as symbols of power and spiritual authority.

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12 January 2026: 10.42 p.m