NUS Press Singapore

Southeast Asian Archaeological Site Reports

The Archaeology of the Empress Place Site, Singapore (2015)

Figures

Aaron Kao - ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

2023

Figures

Figure 1: The general map of the EMP site (indicated in red) located on the north shore of the Singapore River (Aaron Kao).
Figure 1: The general map of the EMP site (indicated in red) located on the north shore of the Singapore River (Aaron Kao).
Figure 2: The April 1819 sketch of Singapore’s southern landform on the north shore of the Singapore River (Langdon and Kwa 2010)
Figure 2: The April 1819 sketch of Singapore’s southern landform on the north shore of the Singapore River (Langdon and Kwa 2010)
Figure 3: The 1820 Bute Archive Mount Stuart map showing the configuration and layout of the Temenggong’s palace on the north shore of the Singapore River (Lim 2015).
Figure 3: The 1820 Bute Archive Mount Stuart map showing the configuration and layout of the Temenggong’s palace on the north shore of the Singapore River (Lim 2015).
Figure 4: ‘Map of the Town and Environs of Singapore’ 1836 (Lim 2015).
Figure 4: ‘Map of the Town and Environs of Singapore’ 1836 (Lim 2015).
Figure 5: ‘Plan of Singapore Town and Adjoining Districts’ 1846 (Lim 2015).
Figure 5: ‘Plan of Singapore Town and Adjoining Districts’ 1846 (Lim 2015).
Figure 6: ‘General Plan of the Town and Environs of Singapore’ 1857 (Lim 2015).
Figure 6: ‘General Plan of the Town and Environs of Singapore’ 1857 (Lim 2015).
Figure 7: ‘Map of the Towns and Environs of Singapore’ 1878 (Lim 2015).
Figure 7: ‘Map of the Towns and Environs of Singapore’ 1878 (Lim 2015).
Figure 8: ‘Plan of Singapore Town’ 1893 (Lim 2015).
Figure 8: ‘Plan of Singapore Town’ 1893 (Lim 2015).
Figure 9: ‘Singapore City’ Series L905 Edition 1 GSGS 1959 (Lim 2015).
Figure 9: ‘Singapore City’ Series L905 Edition 1 GSGS 1959 (Lim 2015).
Figure 10: The EMP site in 1930 showing the Dalhousie Obelisk and the Victoria Theatre (National Archives Singapore).
Figure 10: The EMP site in 1930 showing the Dalhousie Obelisk and the Victoria Theatre (National Archives Singapore).
Figure 11: A test pit located on the western end of the EMP lawn (ISEAS).
Figure 11: A test pit located on the western end of the EMP lawn (ISEAS).
Figure 12: Archaeological deposits (left) containing 14th century ceramics (right) were found in both test pits (ISEAS).Figure 12: Archaeological deposits (left) containing 14th century ceramics (right) were found in both test pits (ISEAS).
Figure 12: Archaeological deposits (left) containing 14th century ceramics (right) were found in both test pits (ISEAS).
Figure 13: EMP site plan showing the main excavation area consisting of zones 1–9 (ISEAS).
Figure 13: EMP site plan showing the main excavation area consisting of zones 1–9 (ISEAS).
Figure 14: Watching brief by archaeologists at the start of construction (ISEAS).
Figure 14: Watching brief by archaeologists at the start of construction (ISEAS).
Figure 15: Red flags are placed in the ground to indicate that archaeological deposits are near the surface (ISEAS).
Figure 15: Red flags are placed in the ground to indicate that archaeological deposits are near the surface (ISEAS).
Figure 16: The EMP site plan (Aaron Kao).
Figure 16: The EMP site plan (Aaron Kao).
Figure 17: The destruction of archaeological deposits in zones 5 and 6 of the main excavation area (ISEAS).
Figure 17: The destruction of archaeological deposits in zones 5 and 6 of the main excavation area (ISEAS).
Figure 18. The table (top) shows the artefact breakdown between the sampled units and the chart (above) shows the proportion between each of the main typological contributor (ISEAS).Figure 18. The table (top) shows the artefact breakdown between the sampled units and the chart (above) shows the proportion between each of the main typological contributor (ISEAS).
Figure 18. The table (top) shows the artefact breakdown between the sampled units and the chart (above) shows the proportion between each of the main typological contributor (ISEAS).
Figure 19. A Yuan period Jingdezhen porcelain bowl from a collapsed profile in EMP 001 (ISEAS).
Figure 19. A Yuan period Jingdezhen porcelain bowl from a collapsed profile in EMP 001 (ISEAS).
Figure 20. A 16th century Jingdezhen porcelain bowl with ‘turtle-back’ motif (top) and a Vietnamese covered box (bottom) from around the same period decorated with petal lappets (ISEAS).
Figure 20. A 16th century Jingdezhen porcelain bowl with ‘turtle-back’ motif (top) and a Vietnamese covered box (bottom) from around the same period decorated with petal lappets (ISEAS).
Figure 21. Earthenware cooking pots from the Temasek cultural layer in EMP 004 (ISEAS).
Figure 21. Earthenware cooking pots from the Temasek cultural layer in EMP 004 (ISEAS).
Figure 22. A selection of the fragmentary sago cooking implements from EMP 004 and EMP 007 (ISEAS).
Figure 22. A selection of the fragmentary sago cooking implements from EMP 004 and EMP 007 (ISEAS).
Figure 23. A selection of shell and bone artefacts from a midden in EMP 003 (ISEAS).
Figure 23. A selection of shell and bone artefacts from a midden in EMP 003 (ISEAS).
Figure 24. These thick and heavily tempered slabs of earthenware may have been parts of stoves (ISEAS).
Figure 24. These thick and heavily tempered slabs of earthenware may have been parts of stoves (ISEAS).
Figure 25. A variety of stone implements from the EMP site (ISEAS).
Figure 25. A variety of stone implements from the EMP site (ISEAS).
Figure 26. A handful of carbonized betel nuts (areca catechu) from the 14th century layer in EMP 006 are compared with a modern specimen on the right (ISEAS).
Figure 26. A handful of carbonized betel nuts (areca catechu) from the 14th century layer in EMP 006 are compared with a modern specimen on the right (ISEAS).
Figure 27. A 14th century stoneware bowl (top) and storage jar sherd (ISEAS).
Figure 27. A 14th century stoneware bowl (top) and storage jar sherd (ISEAS).
Figure 28. A celadon platter from EMP 004 (photo: Lim Chen Sian, illustration: Aaron Kao).Figure 28. A celadon platter from EMP 004 (photo: Lim Chen Sian, illustration: Aaron Kao).
Figure 28. A celadon platter from EMP 004 (photo: Lim Chen Sian, illustration: Aaron Kao).
Figure 29. A sample of Chinese coins from EMP 014 (Lim Chen Sian).
Figure 29. A sample of Chinese coins from EMP 014 (Lim Chen Sian).
Figure 30. This gold coin from EMP is the first ever to be recovered archaeologically in Singapore (Lim Chen Sian).
Figure 30. This gold coin from EMP is the first ever to be recovered archaeologically in Singapore (Lim Chen Sian).
Figure 31. A selection of small finds: a 14th century Qingbai figurine, stone beads and a coin (Lim Chen Sian).
Figure 31. A selection of small finds: a 14th century Qingbai figurine, stone beads and a coin (Lim Chen Sian).
Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).
Figure 32. These charts present the artefact breakdown between the arbitrary layer of each unit (ISEAS).
Figure 33. This chart shows the artefact fluctuation seen in Feature A of EMP 001 (ISEAS).
Figure 33. This chart shows the artefact fluctuation seen in Feature A of EMP 001 (ISEAS).
Figure 34. This photo shows the density of 14th century artefacts underlying the colonial drainpipe feature in EMP 004 (ISEAS).
Figure 34. This photo shows the density of 14th century artefacts underlying the colonial drainpipe feature in EMP 004 (ISEAS).
Figure 35. An anomalous layer of rocks, seen here in a spoil heap, was excavated from the 14th century layer (Patrick Tan).
Figure 35. An anomalous layer of rocks, seen here in a spoil heap, was excavated from the 14th century layer (Patrick Tan).
Figure 36. The rock feature in EMP 014 and EMP 015 (ISEAS).
Figure 36. The rock feature in EMP 014 and EMP 015 (ISEAS).
Figure 37. The timber box feature in EMP 011 (ISEAS).
Figure 37. The timber box feature in EMP 011 (ISEAS).
Figure 38. Drawing of a repurposed boat plank from the timber box feature in EMP 011 (Aaron Kao).
Figure 38. Drawing of a repurposed boat plank from the timber box feature in EMP 011 (Aaron Kao).
Figure 39. Drawing of a shaped wooden peg from the timber box feature in EMP 011 (Aaron Kao).
Figure 39. Drawing of a shaped wooden peg from the timber box feature in EMP 011 (Aaron Kao).

Excavation Unit Drawings

Supported by National Heritage Board Heritage, Singapore. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Heritage Board, Singapore.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56159/sitereport12