GEOARCHAEOSITES FOR HERITAGE TOURISM PRODUCT OF KUALA MUDA DISTRICT, KEDAH, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Archaeological research in the Kuala Muda district until 2022 has recorded three archaeological complexes that are still in-situ and can be visited by tourists. The archaeological evidence at Sungai Batu, Bukit Batu Pahat and Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Complex which proves the existence of the Kedah Tua kingdom as the main trading location in the world. In order to obtain primary data, field research such as surveys, mapping and archaeological excavations are carried out to obtain in-situ data. The results of the study revealed that the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex has been used as an iron smelting industrial area since 788 BC while the Bukit Batu Pahat and Pengkalan Bujang Archaeological Complexes have been used as a port and a Hindu-Buddhist complex since the 7th Century AD to the 13th Century AD. Based on the uniqueness of the archaeological data in the complex, as many as five tourism packages have been created to preserve this archaeological heritage tourism with the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex (SBAC) has been made as a one stop center for the management of the tourism package.