Analysis of Sriwijaya Glass and Stone Bead Production from Sites in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Harry Octavianus Sofian1*, Laure Dussubieux2, Bérénice Bellina3, and Veronique Degroot4

This preliminary study examines the production of glass and stone beads at the Kambang Unglen and Karanganyar sites in South Sumatra, both situated in the wetlands approximately 1 km south of Bukit Seguntang in the Gandus district of Palembang. Archaeological evidence from Kambang Unglen, including surveys and excavations conducted between 1974 and 1988, suggests that the site functioned as a bead-making workshop during the late 7th to early 8th century CE—a period corresponding to the early Srivijayan era. The discovery of sherds, beads, and glass fragments at the site marks the first documented production of ornaments associated with this influential Indian Ocean maritime polity. Chemical analysis using LA-ICP-MS has revealed distinctive features of glass working at Kambang Unglen, including the use of raw glass chunks and unfinished tubes with M-Na-Al and V-Na-Ca compositions. While the origins of these raw materials—whether imported from South Asia or the Middle East, or recycled from local glass objects—remain uncertain, their presence underscores the site’s integration into broader Indian Ocean trade networks. Additionally, this study explores the production of local stone ornaments, investigating the sourcing of raw materials, the technical skills involved, and the social and political significance of these artifacts within Srivijayan society. Overall, the local development of these Indian Ocean embedded workshops further corroborates Sumatra's integration into this trading and cultural network and its adoption of the associated social and political practices.