Lost city 'found in jungles'

Lost city 'found in jungles'
From correspondents in Kuala Lumpur


A 1000-year-old lost city may have been found in the jungles of Malaysia's southern Johor state, a researcher claimed in a report published today.

The discovery of what could be the site of the first capital of the Srivijaya Malay empire dating back to the seventh century will be investigated by Malaysia's Department of Museums and Antiquities, The Star newspaper said.
Independent Malaysian researcher Raimy Che-Ross said his find came after 12 years of studying Malay manuscripts around the world and aerial searches which finally turned up "unusual formations".

Investigations on the ground found the formations were possibly trenches and embankments of the outer city of Kota Gelanggi or Perbenddaharaan Permata (Treasury of Jewels), he said.

Raimy, whose findings were published in the journal of the Malaysian branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, said he did not expect to find structures similar to those of the famed Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia as the lost city in Johor was much older.

"We can expect to find simple granite and brick structures, walls, buildings and possibly undisturbed tombs."

Kota Gelanggi was mainly a trading post, but also a centre of sacred learning, he said.

The Srivijaya maritime and commercial kingdom flourished between the seventh and the 13th centuries in the Malay archipelago.

The kingdom, which originated in Palembang on Indonesia's Sumatra island, soon extended its influence and based its power on control of the international sea trade.

Antiquities department director-general Adi Taha said an expedition would be mounted this year to verify Raimy's find.