Goh Geok Yian, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, and John Miksic, National University of Singapore
20 October 2020
Overall the CCT assemblage comprises a mixture of 14th-century to 1600 ceramics (earthenware, stoneware and porcelain) and 19th–20th century ceramics as well as other accompanying artifacts, such as metal, glass, organic materials, stones and rocks, and construction materials (of which we do not include in the database). The disturbed nature of the soil layers has rendered the analysis of distribution of materials via spit and square units irrelevant and unuseful (explained in an earlier section). There are, however a number of interesting artifacts which should be featured in this report. This section of the report will showcase some of these more unique items (what we consider “Special Finds”). The items will be presented via provenance, material and time period.
Coins
Chinese Coins
14 from Northern Song, 1 from South Song.
Shen Zhong 北宋神宗 (r. 1068-1085)
Xi Ning Zhong Bao 熙宁重宝 (1068-1077) Two cash 折两钱 D 30mm
The density of Chinese coins is comparable to that observed at PHC, where over 100 were recovered in a larger area. This indicates that commerce was an important part of the activities on the CCT site in the Temasek period as well as in the 19th century.
Colonial Coins
Netherlands East India Company: 1
Nederlandsch Indie: 51
English East India Company: 1
Queen Victoria: 1
The Nederlandsch Indie coins were all found in the same location (IIG2). The precise context of the find was not recorded, but it is likely that this is a hoard deposited here for safekeeping.
Chinese Porcelain
Chinese Green Porcelain
Green porcelain shallow bowl (14th century)
Dish with imitation bamboo molding
Green porcelain lid (14th century)
Lid for small jarlet
Chinese White Porcelain Bowls (14th century)
Dehua white porcelain sherd with lotus petals
White Porcelain Covered Boxes (14th Century)
White porcelain covered box with molded lotus petals and scroll designsLid of a qingpai covered box with imitation bamboo molding on the exteriorDehua white porcelain covered box
White Porcelain Cups (14th century)
Iron-spotted Qingbai cupBase of a Dehua white porcelain cup
White Porcelain Bowls (14th Century)
White porcelain base with low molded motif of lotus flower enclosed within concentric circles with panels or lotus panels.White porcelain base likely from a Fujian or Southern Chinese kiln with an unglazed stacking on the interior of the bowl.
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain
I. Yuan Dynasty
Jarlet with lotus petals on lower body, chrysanthemum blossoms and blackberry vines on upper body.Shoulder and neck of a Meiping vase with lotus motifCup with blackberry vines and chrysanthemum blossoms on upper exterior. Upper interior cavetto: cursory diaper pattern. Interior base: chrysanthemum.Cup with undulating rim, probably part of the same cup as BW005-007.Bowl with lotus blossom on interior base, stylized lotus petals on exterior.Lid with carinated profile.
II. Ming Dynasty
Fragment of a plate base with cloud design on interior, off-white glaze, single blue line on exterior inside the unglazed foot.The exterior design strongly resembles that of Yuan bowls with lotus petal decorations near the base, but the glaze and double line on the interior are indicative of an early Ming date.
Southeast Asian ceramics
Vietnamese blue and white miniature cup (15th century)
Vietnamese blue and white teacup. A few Vietnamese blue and white ceramics have been found at PHC and EMP. They indicate that Singapore was in contact with Vietnam in the 15th century. Singapore and Vietnam may have had diplomatic relations in the 14th century; see Miksic, Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, pp. 181–182.
Pa-O Fine Paste Earthenware (14th century-1600)
Punctated motif and molded design on fine paste sherd.Fine paste kendi spout from Pa-O.
Javanese Fine Paste Earthenware (c. 14th–16th century)
Reddish orange brown fine paste ware most probably from East Java. It appears to be a fragment of a figurine.Red-slipped burnished neck of a kendi, East Java.
Unknown Earthenware
This fine paste ware sherd is blackened and burnished and appears to be high-fired. It is an enigmatic piece and provenance of it is currently unknown.Another unknown fine paste rim sherd with molded band of carved lines around its neck. Possibly Southern Thai or Burmese.
Local Earthenware
Paddle-impressed tempered earthenware body sherds.
Chinese Buff Stoneware
Chinese buff stoneware jar rims.Chinese buff stoneware lug with taotie motif.
The plate is typical of 19th-century British imitation of Chinese porcelain.The blue and white bowl with a floral border around the inner rim. In the center of the bowl is a thistle.Blue and white large bowl with an Oriental scenery with figures on a bridge and in the background are buildings with domes and a cupola on a hill.Base mark “Aleppo – TS & Co.” (pattern name).Gaudy Dutch plate.
Chinese Porcelain
Late Qing blue and white porcelain bowl.
Japanese Porcelain
Japanese Imari plate.
Chinese Stoneware
19th-century Southern Chinese jar commonly found in Singapore sites of this period.
European Stoneware
European stoneware bottle, 19th century.
Chinese Earthenware: Yixing Teapot
Yixing teapot with broken handle, 19th–20th century.Yixing teapot with Chinese character stamped design and applique taotie motifs.
