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<p>An extraordinary archaeological find recently grabbed national headlines: a lifesize <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2024/07/25/kedahs-1200-year-old-buddha-statue-unearthed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Buddha statue</span></a> unearthed in Bukit Choras, Kedah, believed to date back to the 7th or 8th century CE, making it older than Angkor Wat.</p>
<p>Could this discovery mean the nation’s history extends far beyond what we&#8217;ve learnt in our textbooks? FMT Lifestyle uncovered the inside story from Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, the man responsible for revealing the deep secrets of Bukit Choras.</p>
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		</style><div class="robo-gallery-wrap robo-gallery-wrap-id2821039 robo-gallery-" ><div id="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345-block-loader" class="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345Spinner"><div class="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345Rect1"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345Rect2"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345Rect3"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345Rect4"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345Rect5"></div></div><div id="robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345" class="robogallery-gallery-2821039" style="width:100%;margin:0 auto;  display: none;"><div id="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345" data-options="rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345" style="width:100%;" class="robo_gallery  "><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="This intact Buddha head, found alongside the statue, is what made this recent discovery truly astonishing." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1eaafb61-1.webp"  title="1"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1eaafb61-1.webp"  title="1" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">This intact Buddha head, found alongside the statue, is what made this recent discovery truly astonishing.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Excavated from Bukit Choras in Kedah, the majestic statue is now at Universiti Sains Malaysia&#039;s Global Archaeological Research Centre. 
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/46986b52-2.webp"  title="2"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/46986b52-2.webp"  title="2" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Excavated from Bukit Choras in Kedah, the majestic statue is now at Universiti Sains Malaysia's Global Archaeological Research Centre. 
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, 39, is a senior lecturer at USM and the archaeologist who led the project at Bukit Choras. 
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08e6aa31-3.webp"  title="3"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08e6aa31-3.webp"  title="3" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, 39, is a senior lecturer at USM and the archaeologist who led the project at Bukit Choras. 
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Experts were amazed by the statue&#039;s detailed features, such as the garment and seated posture.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/44447bcf-4.webp"  title="4"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/44447bcf-4.webp"  title="4" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Experts were amazed by the statue's detailed features, such as the garment and seated posture.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="This ancient Buddha figure is made of stucco - a plaster mix of lime, water and sand - which is not known for its longevity.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/39439679-5.webp"  title="5"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/39439679-5.webp"  title="5" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">This ancient Buddha figure is made of stucco - a plaster mix of lime, water and sand - which is not known for its longevity.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox=" Nasha never expected to hit such a jackpot on the first excavation site of his career.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/251ad6e3-6.webp"  title="6"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/251ad6e3-6.webp"  title="6" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content"> Nasha never expected to hit such a jackpot on the first excavation site of his career.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="The team also found two other incomplete Buddha statues at Bukit Choras, at each cardinal point of the ancient temple that dates back 1,200 years. 
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/b698fd25-7.webp"  title="7"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/b698fd25-7.webp"  title="7" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">The team also found two other incomplete Buddha statues at Bukit Choras, at each cardinal point of the ancient temple that dates back 1,200 years. 
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="During the first phase of excavation last September, they unearthed a large torso of the sculpture on the southern wall of the temple.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/442e87bd-8.webp"  title="8"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/442e87bd-8.webp"  title="8" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">During the first phase of excavation last September, they unearthed a large torso of the sculpture on the southern wall of the temple.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="At the western wall, yet another fragmented part of the Buddha was excavated." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/faabc69b-9.webp"  title="9"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/faabc69b-9.webp"  title="9" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">At the western wall, yet another fragmented part of the Buddha was excavated.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Sculpted alongside the statue on a stone slab was a depiction of the temple&#039;s original structure.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bc1621f9-10.webp"  title="10"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bc1621f9-10.webp"  title="10" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Sculpted alongside the statue on a stone slab was a depiction of the temple's original structure.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Another groundbreaking find at Bukit Choras were these identical ancient inscriptions of Buddhist text, using Pallava script in the Sanskrit language." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/f22d479f-11.webp"  title="11"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/f22d479f-11.webp"  title="11" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Another groundbreaking find at Bukit Choras were these identical ancient inscriptions of Buddhist text, using Pallava script in the Sanskrit language.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Although excavation at the site began last year, Nasha began researching the history of Bukit Choras in 2017. " ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/741ec0c3-12.webp"  title="12"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/741ec0c3-12.webp"  title="12" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Although excavation at the site began last year, Nasha began researching the history of Bukit Choras in 2017. </div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Nasha, who is trained in Sanskrit, completed his PhD in archaeology in Pakistan." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/242f58d5-13.webp"  title="13"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/242f58d5-13.webp"  title="13" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Nasha, who is trained in Sanskrit, completed his PhD in archaeology in Pakistan.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="After the excavation of the statue, his work now involves extensive analysis and research." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/be0874b3-14.webp"  title="14"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/be0874b3-14.webp"  title="14" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">After the excavation of the statue, his work now involves extensive analysis and research.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2821039 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Given that Nasha and his team have only explored a fraction of the Bukit Choras site, we’re betting this won&#039;t be the last we hear from them." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4b4de790-15.webp"  title="15"  data-width="1600"  data-height="1000" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4b4de790-15.webp"  title="15" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Given that Nasha and his team have only explored a fraction of the Bukit Choras site, we’re betting this won't be the last we hear from them.</div></div></div></div></div><script>var rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345 = {"version":"3.2.1","id":2821039,"class":"id2821039","roboGalleryDelay":1000,"mainContainer":"#robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345","loadingContainer":"#rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345-block-loader","loadingContainerObj":"rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345-block-loader","columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"resolutions":[{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":960},{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":650},{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":450}],"descBox":true,"descBoxClass":"rbs_desc_panel_dark","lightboxOptions":{"gallery":{"enabled":true,"tCounter":"%curr% of %total%"}},"facebook":true,"twitter":true,"pinterest":true,"vk":true,"overlayEffect":"direction-aware-fade","boxesToLoadStart":12,"boxesToLoad":8,"waitUntilThumbLoads":1,"LoadingWord":"Loading...","loadMoreWord":"Load More","noMoreEntriesWord":"No More Entries","horizontalSpaceBetweenBoxes":15,"verticalSpaceBetweenBoxes":15,"lazyLoad":1,"wrapContainer":"#robo-gallery-wrap-rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345","filterContainer":"#rbs_gallery_68d310b5da345filter","loadMoreClass":"button-flat-primary button-large "};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cms.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/robo-gallery/js/robo_gallery_alt.js"></script><link id="gallery" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://cms.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/robo-gallery/css/gallery.css"><link id="font" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://cms.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/robo-gallery/css/gallery.font.css">


LatestHeadlines

Older than Angkor Wat: unearthing Kedah’s Buddha statue

A team of researchers led by Nasha Rodziadi Khaw at Universiti Sains Malaysia made history with their recent discovery.

archaeology

Buddha

Bukit Choras

heritage

History

Jabatan Warisan Negara

Kedah

research

Universiti Sains Malaysia