| Abstract: |
Muaro Jambi is the largest Buddhist site in the southern part of Sumatra, and in fact in the entire island. The site covers about 2014 ha of swampy land on the north bank of the Batang Hari River. Besides eight large brick temples dated to the 9th-13th centuries CE, there are also a group of mounds or hills called 'Menapo', canals, bricks, and pottery shards shattered all over the area. Excavated menapos have revealed they may contain either a shrine or remains of ancient settlement. Nearby the Muara Jambi area, along the Batang Hari River on both banks, there are other sites which display similar findings and artefacts to those in Muara Jambi. Furthermore, new findings from one excavated 'menapo' reveal the same metal tools used for building equipment as those found in the Intan shipwreck. Based on this evidence, it is possible to indicate connections between Muara Jambi and these sites both in cultural and commercial spheres.
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