MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed till 13 February 2015, 11am
COMMEMORATING OVER 30 YEARS OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN SINGAPORE:
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION AT EMPRESS PLACE
SINGAPORE, 13 February 2015 – Take a stroll around Singapore’s historic civic
district and you could literally be walking over centuries of history. Starting from 2
February, an archaeological excavation is being carried out right in front of the
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall at Empress Place. This site has not been explored
archaeologically, and it is also the largest archaeological excavation ever undertaken
in Singapore. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong,
visited the excavation site today.
2
This archaeological excavation is organised by the National Heritage Board
(NHB), with the support of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), as part of its
efforts to commemorate 31 years of archaeology in Singapore this year. The
excavation is done in anticipation of URA’s upcoming enhancements plans for the
Civic District. NHB is partnering the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre of the Institute of
Southeast Asian Studies (NSC-ISEAS) to conduct the excavation, and hopes to
recover artefacts and deposits dating from the Temasek period to Singapore’s early
colonial days.
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Minister Lawrence Wong says, “For some time now, archaeologists,
researchers and volunteers have been meticulously unearthing and documenting
Singapore’s history. Some of the artefacts they have discovered give us a deeper
understanding of Singapore from as far back as 700 years ago. I’m encouraged by
this growing interest in our history and heritage. This is timely as we celebrate our
Golden Jubilee, and crucial as we continue in our journey as a nation.”
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Lead archaeologist for the project and Research Fellow at the NSC-ISEAS,
Mr Lim Chen Sian, shares that, “Opportunities for archaeological excavations in
Singapore are rare as we are a small and highly urbanised country. That said, there
are significant pockets of land throughout Singapore with high archaeological
potential. The Archaeology Unit of the NSC-ISEAS is excited to be part of today’s
excavation at Empress Place, which was the location of a thriving port in the early
days, and any new discovery will hopefully advance our understanding of
Singapore’s earliest beginnings.”
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Besides such excavations, NHB has been supporting archaeology in
Singapore through various ways. Aside from funding support for similar researchbased excavations, our national museums have also featured exhibitions
showcasing these unearthed treasures. For example, the SINGAPURA: 700 Years
exhibition, currently on show at the National Museum of Singapore, has an
introductory section on archaeological work done in Singapore over the past 30
years. From the Forbidden Hill to the Singapore River, significant artefacts have
been unearthed from these historically rich sites, and contribute to a deeper
understanding of Singapore’s 700 years of history.
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Deputy Director for Curation and Collection, National Museum of Singapore,
Mr Iskander Mydin, explains, “Archaeology is a critical component in the study of the
development of countries and civilisations. The recovery and analysis of material
culture unearthed contribute to our learning and understanding of history, especially
where textual records are very limited. In Singapore’s context, artefacts such as the
gold ornaments uncovered from the Forbidden Hill (today known as Fort Canning
Hill) are evidence of the existence of life on this island as early as the 14 th century.
These artefacts, bearing significant historical testimony, are also the precious
cultural relics that people always look forward to seeing with their own eyes in the
museums, just to catch a glimpse of the ancient past through them.”
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For a list of upcoming public programmes on archaeology, please refer to
Annex A. For a list of past archaeological excavations that took place in Singapore,
please refer to Annex B.
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For media queries, please contact:
Cherie Lee
Tate Anzur
DID: +65 6221 2681
Mobile: +65 9184 5774
Email: [email protected]
- END -
About the National Heritage Board
The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. As the custodian
of Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing
the Singaporean experience and imparting our Singapore spirit. NHB’s mission is to
preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities, for the
purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the
national museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to heritage
sites, monuments and the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB
curates heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present
and future generations of Singaporeans. NHB is now a statutory board under the
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more
information.
About the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
The Archaeology Unit (AU) was formed in 2010 and pursues projects designed to
foster collaborative research in the archaeology of civilization in Southeast Asia, and
its links with its neighbours in Asia. It is a part of the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre at the
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. In Singapore the AU conducts excavations
concentrating on the material culture of the period from 1300 to 1600, but also
maintains an interest in the lives of Singapore’s inhabitants during the colonial period
of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The AU also collaborates with institutions in the
Asia and Pacific regions to conduct research and training, and to disseminate reports
on archaeological research. Please visit http://www.iseas.edu.sg/archaeologyunit.cfm for more information.
ANNEX A
SINGAPURA: 700 YEARS PUBLIC PROGRAMMES
A) Lectures for general public
Why Digging Matters: What Archaeologists have Contributed to the Understanding of
Ourselves
20 Mar 2015, Fri | 7.30pm – 8.30pm | The Salon, Level 1, NMS | Free admission with
registration
Archaeology is a young discipline in the world of social sciences. To most people, the
primary focus of archaeology appears to be digging up old things. Just what are these old
things and what can old things tell us about the past and our future? Part historiography of
the discipline and part personal travelogue, join archaeologist Lim Chen Sian as he muses
about old things which tell us a little about ourselves.
About the Speaker
Archaeologist Lim Chen Sian has been traveling and excavating extensively in Java,
Kampuchea, Malaya, and Sumatra for the last 12 years. Since 2006 he has led all the major
archaeological investigations in Singapore; some of his recent projects include Bukit Brown
Cemetery (2014); Jacob Ballas Children's Garden (2014); Singapore Management
University (2014); Cathedral of Good Shepherd (2013); Indian Heritage Centre (2012);
Victoria Concert Hall (2011); and the National Art Gallery (2010) He is a Visiting Research
Fellow with the Archaeology Unit, Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre, Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies, and currently resides on an island somewhere in the South China Sea.
B) Workshop for young audiences
A Dig into the Past!
An Archaeology Workshop for participants between ages 12 – 14
7, 14, 21, 28 March; 11, 25 April; 9 May (Saturdays)
10am – 12.30pm | Seminar Rooms, Level 2, NMS
$21 per participant (includes workshop materials and SISTIC booking fees)
Limited to 25 participants per session
Tickets available on SISTIC from Monday 2 February
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be an archaeologist? What do archaeologists
do in a small country like ours? In this introductory workshop to archaeology, our young
participants will be given exposure to what the discipline is all about, facilitated by
professional archaeologists who are intimately involved with the excavations in Singapore.
Participants will also get to play archaeologists and analyse a hypothetical excavation in a
classroom setting.
The programme is open to participants with tickets only. Parents are not allowed to
accompany their children for the session.
ANNEX B
PAST ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN SINGAPORE
No.
Site
Year
1.
Fort Canning
1984, 1985, 1987, 1990
2.
Pulau Saigon
1987–1988
3.
Old Parliament House
1989
4.
Duxton Hill
1989
5.
Parliament House Complex
1994–1995
6.
Empress Place
1998
7.
Colombo Court
2000–2001
8.
Istana Kampong Gelam
2000, 2003
9.
Old Parliament House
May 2002, Oct 2002
10.
Padang
Apr 2003
11.
St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Sep 2003 – Sep 2004
12.
Fort Tanjong Katong
Sept 2004 – May 2005
13.
Keppel Marina
June 2005
14.
Palmer Road
Jan 2006
15.
Fort Serapong
Apr–Dec 2006
16.
Neil Road House
July 2006
17.
Sentosa Island Integrated Resort
Dec 2006 – Feb 2007
18.
National Art Gallery
Dec 2009
19.
Fort Canning
Apr 2010
20.
Adam Park
May 2010
21.
Victoria Concert Hall
June 2010
22.
National Art Gallery
Nov 2010
23.
Adam Park
Feb–Apr 2011
24.
Victoria Concert Hall
Sep 2011
25.
Indian Heritage Centre
Dec 2012
26.
Adam Park
Jan 2013
27.
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
April 2013
28.
Singapore Management University Law School
May 2014
29.
Empress Place
June 2014
30.
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
July 2014
31.
Bukit Brown Cemetery
Aug 2014
32.
Empress Place
Feb–Mar 2015