Investigation of Ancient River at

Lembah Bujang, Kedah, Malaysia

S. Ramzul Ihsan
Student, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Penang, Malaysia e-mail: rihsan.uphy12@student.usm.my

Dr. M.M. Nordiana

Senior Lecturer
Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang,
Malaysia e-mail: mmnordiana@usm.com

Dr. Rosli Saad

Senior Lecturer
Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang,
Malaysia e-mail:rosli@usm.my

Dr. Mokhtar Saidin

Professor
Centre for Global Archeological Research Malaysia, 11800 Universiti Sains
Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail:mmokh@usm.my

Umi Maslinda
Student, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Penang, Malaysia e-mail: umimaslinda@gmail.com

Hazrul Hisham
Student, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Penang, Malaysia e-mail: hazrul_hisham@outlook.com

Nabila Sulaiman
Student, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Penang, Malaysia e-mail: nabilasulaiman93@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The use of geophysical methods in archeological survey is a technology often used nowdays
because this method is not too difficult and easy to administer. The objective of the study was to
detect the possible ancient river in Sungai Batu, Lembah Bujang Kedah using magnetic method.
The magnetic method was performed using G-856 proton magnometer and the spacing between
stations was 20m spacing gridding. The magnetic data was processed by ulitizing Microsoft
Excels and Surfer8 software which was displayed in a form of countaring and revealed low
residual zones shown possible ancient river. The results of low magnetic values(-280nT to -
400nT) indicated the existed of ancient river within study area. These findings indicated that
magnetic method suitable use in a search of archeological features.
KEYWORDS:Archaeology, Sungai Batu, Lembah Bujang, Magnetic, ancient river, G-856

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INTRODUCTION
The study area was situated near to Gunung Jerai and Sungai Merbok. The mid-south of
Kedah was recorded as marine area in 1st and 2nd century. Since the sea level was rise, the area
change to be a landed area in years 1400 (Wheatley, 1961). Sungai Batu has been used since the
5th century BC, continued, from time to time, until the 17th century BC, during the 2200 years.
This confirms the Sungai Batu Complex is the oldest civilization in the region. The soil types of
the area are sandy clay covered with fine sand. The sediment was transported from the river and
being settled around this area. The sea level rises, the settled area turn to be landed area (Jane,
1990). The geomorphology of the study area was flat landed fill with palm and rubber tree. There
are few small rivers and swamp at the eastern of the area. Archaeologists found some of ancient
structure and old jetty.
Magnetic methods are widely used in exploration, engineering, borehole, and global
geophysics and the subjects of this monograph are the physical and mathematical principles of
these methods regardless of the area of application. Geotechnical studies are usually used for
subsurface, engineering and environmental works. Geophysical studies provide supported data in
order to save cost and time. Geophysical methods can be used to determine depth of bedrock,
nature of overburden materials and near surface structures such as sinkholes, cavities, voids,
faults and boulders. Selection of the appropriate geophysical method is based on project
objectives and site conditions. Magnetic geophysical surveys measure small, localized variations
in the Earths magnetic field. The magnetic properties of naturally occurring materials such as
magnetic ore bodies and basic igneous rocks allows them to be identified and mapped by
magnetic surveys. Strong local magnetic fields or anomalies are also produced by buried steel
objects. Magnometer surveys find underground storage tanks, drums, piles, and reinforced
concrete foundations by detecting the magnetic anomalies they produce.

THEORY OF MAGNETIC SURVEY

The purpose of the magnetic survey is used to record spatial variation in the Earths magnetic
field. In archeology, magnetic surveys are used to detect and map archeological artifacts and
features The magnetic surveying consists of measuring the magnitude of the earths magnetic
field at each point on a grid established over a site. Variations in the magnetic properties of the
subsurface material can produce an observable variation (anomaly) in the measured magnetic
field. At any site successful application of the method depends on the magnetic properties of the
local subsurface, the extent and nature of human activity.
The gravitational force exerted between two point masses of mass m1 and m2 separated by a
distance r is given by Newton's law of gravitation, which is written as where G is the gravitational
constant. This law, in words, simply states that the gravitational force exerted between two bodies
decreases as one over the square of the distance separating the bodies. Since mass, distance, and
the gravitational constant are always positive values, the gravitational force is always an attractive
force :
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 11 4387

PREVIOUS STUDY
Magnetic surveys have been used in the study at Gem Valley, Adoho basalt aquifers in
several areas, particularly in the snake river plain and columbia plateau, with varying degrees of
success. magnetic data from gem valley in southeastern Idaho illustrate some of the potentials and
limitations of magnetic surveys in the study of volcanic rocks (Mabey and Oriel, 1970). gem
valley is an intermontane basin about 56 km (35 miles) long and as much as 13 km (8 miles)
wide. the enclosing ranges are paleozoic sedimentary rocks. much of the valley floor consists of
cenozoic basalt flows f,rom vents in the southeastern part of the valley and from an extensive
volcanic field northeast of the valley. the basalt flows inundated a surface of unknown relief on
the older cenozoic sediments. post-basalt sediments overlap the basalt in several areas but sin
most of the valley the basalt is overlain by a thi,n cover of windblown soil. water is pumped from
basalt in several parts of the valley and information on the extent, thickness, and structure of the
,& salt is important to ground-water investigations in the valley. tlhe first magnetic observations
in the valley consisted of measurements with a magnetometer moun,ted on a l-m tripod. the
magnetic field in areas where the basalt was within a few feet of the surface varied several
hundred gammias over distances of a few meters. these abrupt variations reflect the
magnetization of the upper few meters of the basalt and were of little value in determining the
thickness or gross structure of the flows, so the survey was abandoned. the method could have
been used to locate the edge of the ibasalt where it was at shallow depths.
At the Antelope Valley California, the magnetic method used in studying the structure of the
basin. an example of this application of magnetic measurements is an aeromagnetic profile in
eastern antelope valley.The basement in this part of antelope valley is igneous rock of
approximately quartz monzonite com,position. a cenozoic basin several thousand feet deep has
been defined by drilling and gravity measurements on the south side of rosamond lake (Mabey,
1960). The aeromagnetic and gravity profiles across the basin, and the configuration inferred
from the gravity data and one deep drill hole (not along the profile) that did not penetrate the
basement rock. on the southern half of the profile are three local magnetic anomalies produced by
lithologic variations in the basement rock. the character of these anomalies, which is better
revealed on a contour map, is typical of anomalies over quartz monzonite in this part of the
mojave desert. a skilled interpreter would infer from these anomalies that the rock producing the
anomalies ,is similar to the quartz monzonite exposed a few miles to the east. depths determined
for sources of anomalies a and b were used to supplement the gravity data as control for the base
of basin fill along the southern part of the profile. this interpretation involved assumptions on the
geometry of the disturb a ing mass, which were not critical, and the assumption that the top of the
disturbing mass extended to the top of the basement. however, because the determination of
depths from these magnetic anom,alies does not involve assumptions of physical properties or the
removal of a regional gradient as do the gravity data, the magnetic depths for this part of the
profile are more reliable than the depths determined from the gravity data. the magnetic data
provide only two depths and do not provide a continuous indication of the depth to basement
along the profile. near the north end of the profile is a double-peaked magnetic high. the extent of
the gradients on this high indicate an elevation of the top of the magnetic mass consistent with the
elevation of the basement surface inferred from the gravity. the contrast in character between this
anomaly and the anomalies at the south end of the profile suggests a difference in magnetic
properties of the rock producing the anomalies, although all the anomalies probably are produced
by intrusive rocks. the magnetic low near the center of the profile is over the deepest part of the
basin, but the lowest value is produced by the steeply dipping interface, probably a fault on the
south side of the basin. the location of the fault and also a crude approximation of the vertical
displacement could be inferred from the magnetic anomaly. over the deepest part of the basin no
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 11 4388

local magnetic anomalies suitable for precise depth analysis were recorded; therefore, the
thickness of the basin fill in this area could not be determined from the magnetic data. variations
in the general level of magnetic intensity over the central and southern part of the profile,
computed assuming a susceptibility contrast of 1.7~10.~ cgs units, agree with the measured
intensity. along most of the southern part of the profile the computed intensity is higher than the
measured level, suggesting that the rock underlying this area has a lower susceptibility than the
rock to the south.
M.M Nordiana et al. (2014) presented the geophysical methods, magnetic survey and 2D-
resistivity survey at Lembah Bujang, Kedah with purposed to study the archeological prospection
at that area. The main objective is to locate the buried structure remain in the area of Sungai Batu,
Lembah Bujang Kedah for shallow investigations. The magnetic survey was performed using G-
856 proton magnetometer and the spacing between stations was 1 m to 2 m gridding. The
magnetic data revealed high residual zones causing the magnetic anomalies using Surfer8
software. The results of high magnetic values (30-180 nT) indicated a distribution of the anomaly
features within the study area. These anomaly features are detected according to the magnetic
contrast (baked clay bricks) and the surrounding, mainly sandy clay. In order to provide further
data on the site, 2-D resistivity technique was carried out at the same area of SB2ZZ. Resistivity
surveys have been applied using Pole-dipole arrays with 15 survey lines. Afterwards, the
resistivity data were processed with 2-D inversion resistivity (Res2Dinv) software which includes
smoothness constrained. The 2-D resistivity profiles obtained some high anomalies (up to 3500
ohm-m). The inversion results revealed that a rectangular gridding pattern and a dense anomaly
existed in depth range 0-1 m. Based upon on-site calibration at partly exhumed sites, such
anomalies are interpreted as baked clay bricks. The results shows the presented of anomaly with
magnetic values vary from -50nT to 180nT. This indicate the existed of buried structure at the
area prove with the magnetic contrast (baked clay bricks) and the surrounding mainly sandy clay.

GENERAL GEOLOGY
Lembah Bujang, Merbok is the one placed at Malaysia that near to the Gunung Jerai, the
highest mountain of Malaysia. Gunung Jerai with high 1300 m. Muda river and Merbok river are
the river that flow through the Gunung Jerai. From a geographical single valley has three main
units of mountains, barren hills and valleys also river beaches. The Gunung Jerai mountain is the
highest mountain in the valley of the rock cockerel made of schist rocks with a few layers
quartzite. Sungai Batu is located in Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang) along the road from Sungai
Petani to Merbok in northwestern Malaysia. The study area was situated near Gunung Jerai and
Sungai Merbok . The mid-south of Kedah was recorded as marine area in first and second
century. Since the sea level was rise, the area change to be landed area in years 1400 (Wheatley,
1961). The soil types of the area are sandy clay covered with fine sand. The sediment was
transported from the river and being settled around this area. The sea level rises, the settled area
turn to be landed area (Jane, 1990). The geomorphology of the study area was flat landed fill with
palm and rubber tree. There are few small rivers and swamp at the eastern of the area (Figure 1).
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 11 4389

Figure 1: Geology map of Sungai Batu, Kedah (Geology Malaysia, 2012).

STUDY AREA
Located between Gunung Jerai and Muda River in south Kedah, near to the town of Gurun,
Lembah Bujang covers 224 km. The area in Lembah Bujang where archeological finds have
been uncovered is concentrated around the mouth of Muda River. One placed at Lembah Bujang
beside the highway Merbok was covered in this survey. The area that identified existed ancient
river. The location was Sungai Batu area which is in the Lembah Bujang, Kuala Muda, Kedah,
Malaysia territory. The location was from N 5 42 01.92 , E100 25 51.04 to N 5 42 36.62,
E100 27 17.2 and N 5 41 34.26, E100 27 43.13 to N 5 4102.00 , E 100 26 36.24
(Figure 2).
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Figure 2: Magnetic survey area at Sungai Batu, Lembah Bujang, Kedah (Malaysia)
(Google earth, 2015).

METHODOLOGY
Magnetic survey method is basic of mapping on localized variations in the Earths magnetic
field caused by sub-surface magnetic materials which range from naturally occurring magnetic
minerals to man-made ferrous objects. The survey was carried out using G- 856 portable proton
magnetometer. This equipment measure the total magnetic field intensity in that area, which is a
scalar measurement of simply the magnitude of the Earths field vector in gammas or nanoTeslas
(nT). Total field measurement was carried out by one proton sensor while magnetic gradient
measurements were made with two proton sensor with 0.9 meter vertical offset and another study
using 1.8 meter vertical offset. First step in magnetic processing was inspecting raw data for
spikes, gaps, instrument noise or any irregularities in the data. The next step involved diurnal
variation correction and IGRF correction to produce magnetic residual. Once corrections were
done, the data were exported into a grid file to the Surfer8 software. After calculating a grid from
xyz data in Surfer8, magnetic residual was carried out to produce contour maps.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 3 shows the area where the positive result of findings ancient river at Sungai Batu,
Lembah Bujang. The residual magnetic map gives magnetic values which vary from -280 nT to -
400 nT. This lower magnetic susceptibility values indicated the possible ancient river in the
survey site. Proved by the characteristics of minerals in the river such as quartz, feldspar and
carbonate. The flows of the ancient river can see from south to north.
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 11 4391

Figure 3: Possible ancient river at Sungai Batu, Lembah Bujang

CONCLUSSION
The geophysical method normally like magnetic is the one method that can give a good
result in detection of anomaly at the area selected. From the magnetic method, the low value of
magnetic susceptibility describe about the ancient river proved by their characteristics of the
minerals such as quartz and feldspar.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The sincerely thank to the supervisor, partner laboratory, technical staffs of the geophysics
laboratory and all geophysics undergraduates student, School of Physics, Universiti Sains
Malaysia for their assistance during the data acquisition and also to Archeology USM for their
supported to complete this journal.

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