![]() In 1949, a section of Stamford Road in the civic district – an area with potential 14th-century Temasek period finds – was dug for “buried treasure” supposedly left behind from the days of the Japanese Occupation (1942–45). Singapore has not been spared from the ravages of treasure hunters either. 5 While local authorities have since put in place mitigation policies and experts have issued recommendations to deal with illegal antiquities trafficking, these may not be sufficient and greater community awareness is needed. For example, the ancient burial site of Bit Meas in Prey Veng province, Cambodia (estimated 150 BCE to 100 CE), was almost completely looted in early 2006 by treasure hunters. 4 If the trafficking of antiquities is left unchecked, the potential loss of knowledge and heritage would be devastating. ![]() Why write about it now? With the price of gold at an all-time high, many ancient historical sites in Asia, especially those believed to contain gold jewellery and artefacts, are being looted. To understand how it became such a valued metal in Southeast Asia specifically, we need to look at the historical, 1 archaeological 2 and ethnographic 3 evidence. ![]() Gold is a precious commodity admired for its beauty, rarity and monetary value. A 1694 print showing a gold mine ( tambang in Indonesian) in Sumatra by Caspar Luyken and published by Willem van de Water.
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