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In-situ compositional analysis and provenance study of the historic terengganu stone (the inscribed stone “Batu Bersurat”) using neutron-induced prompt gamma-ray techniques (NIPGAT)

Jaafar Abdullah 1 , Roslan Yahya 1 , Lahasen@Norman Shah Dahing 1 , Hearie Hassan 1 , Engku Mohd Fahmi Engku Chik 1 , Mohamad Rabaie Shari 1 Show all authors , Airwan Affandi Mahmood 1 , Abdul Quddoos Abu Bakar 1 , Ainul Mardhiah Terry 1 , Tajul Anuar Jamaluddin 2 , Mohd Yusof Abdullah 3 , Nor Ainah Mahmud 3

Affiliations 

  • 1 Malaysian Nuclear Agency
  • 2 National University of Malaysia
  • 3 Terengganu State Museum Board
Jurnal Sains Nuklear Malaysia, 2013;25(2):9-19.
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Abstract

“Batu Bersurat Terengganu (inscribed stone)” is the oldest artifact with Jawi writing on it. The
artifact proves that the Kingdom of Terengganu exist earlier than 1326 or 1386. To date, a lot of
studies on the content of the inscription have been carried out by historians and archaeologists, but
no scientific investigation about the material composition and its provenance has been performed.
This paper focuses on the study of the origin of the Batu Bersurat Terengganu using NeutronInduced
Prompt Gamma-Ray Techniques (NIPGAT). Portable NIPGAT system has been designed
and developed based on volumetric measurement methods and it will be considered as a nondestructive
testing. The system uses low activity of californium-252 (Cf-252) neutron radioactive
sources, gamma ray spectroscopy and special computer software to carry out the investigation. The
study found that the Batu Bersurat Terengganu is made of dolerite based on the elemental
composition of the stone. Although most of the scientific data for the study of the origin are already
obtained, but further research is still ongoing to complete the scope of this study.

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