The Iron Age and the proto-historic period

Archaeological discoveries belonging to the Iron Age period can be divided into two categories, those probably representing the indigenous population and those brought in by settlers. The earliest and most mysterious of these discoveries is the collection of beads found at Kota Tinggi, in Johore, about 20% of which have been identified as of Roman origin and dating from the first two or three centuries AD. This probably indicates a foreign settlement on the Johore River at a very early date.

The most important settlements of foreigners on the west coast during this early period were near Kedah Peak, where colonies of southern Indians lived from the 4th to the 12th century AD. At Kuala Selinsing, in northern Perak, considerable quantities of wheel-made pottery, gold ornaments, cornelian and glass beads, and shell ornaments have been found, alongside skeletons of proto-Malay types, which point to the conclusion that this was an important indigenous settlement probably flourishing about AD 800. The only other material evidences of indigenous settlements during the proto-historic period are slab graves and iron implements found in Perak, Selangor, and Pahang, dating probably from the 10th century AD.

From early in the Christian era there were merchant ships plying between India and China, some of which put in at river mouths in the Malay Peninsula. The reports that these traders carried back to their native lands are the main source of historical information about this early period.

Though in the centre and south of western Malaysia there are few traces of continuous occupation except by pre-urban tribes before the 15th century, there is ample evidence of Malay settlements in the north, notably in Kedah, Singgora, and Ligor, from a very early date. At one period they formed part of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Lankasuka. Kelantan, Trengganu, and Pahang can also be identified from early Chinese records as Malay settlements of some importance, reaching a high standard of culture and wealth.