Papers by Ambra Calo
Trans-Asiatic exchange of glass, gold and bronze: analysis of finds from the late prehistoric Pangkung Paruk site, Bali
Antiquity
This study examines the significance of the originally Hindu goddess Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī (Dur... more This study examines the significance of the originally Hindu goddess Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī (Durgā slaying the buffalo demon) in Tantric Buddhist temple contexts of the 8th-11th century in Afghanistan and northeastern India, and 11th-century Bali. Taking a cross-regional approach, it considers the genesis of Tantric Buddhism, its transmission to Indonesia, and its significance in Bali during the 10th-11th century. Drawing primarily on archaeological and iconographic evidence, it suggests that Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī is likely to have reached Bali as part of a late 10th-11th century phase of renewed transmission of Tantric Buddhism from the northeastern Indian subcontinent to Indonesia, following an initial late 7th-8th century phase.
Heger I Bronze Drums and the Relationships between Dian and Dong Son Cultures
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2017
Two thousand years ago, maritime trade flourished in Southeast Asia and archaeological excavation... more Two thousand years ago, maritime trade flourished in Southeast Asia and archaeological excavations have revealed that Island Southeast Asia played an important role within developing trading networks. The sites of Sembiran and Pacung on the north coast of Bali, Indonesia, have produced a wide range of artifacts that demonstrate links to mainland and island Asia. Here, we examine faunal remains from these sites to assess the role that livestock played in north Bali diet and trade at that time. In addition to abundant pig (Sus cf. scrofa) remains, the sites yielded the earliest securely dated goat (Capra hircus) remains known from Southeast Asia. Moreover carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium stable isotope analyses of bone collagen and tooth apatite indicate that some of these goats were from a markedly different environment than the pig, human, and dog remains from the sites. It is likely that these goats were imported from a different
Antiquity, 2015
Abstract Studies of trade routes across Southeast Asia in prehistory have hitherto focused largel... more Abstract Studies of trade routes across Southeast Asia in prehistory have hitherto focused largely on archaeological evidence from Mainland Southeast Asia, particularly the Thai Peninsula and Vietnam. The role of Indonesia and Island Southeast Asia in these networks has been poorly understood, owing to the paucity of evidence from this region. Recent research has begun to fill this void. New excavations at Sembiran and Pacung on the northern coast of Bali have produced new, direct AMS dates from burials, and analytical data from cultural materials including pottery, glass, bronze, gold andsemi-precious stone, as well as evidence of local bronze-casting. This suggests strong links with the Indian subcontinent and Mainland Southeast Asia from the late first millennium BC, some 200 years earlier than previously thought.
Calo et al. Antiquity, Additional Data, 2015
New excavations at Sembiran and Pacung on the northern coast of Bali have produced new direct AMS... more New excavations at Sembiran and Pacung on the northern coast of Bali have produced new direct AMS dates from burials and analytical data from cultural materials including pottery, glass, bronze, gold and semi-precious stone, as well as evidence of local bronze-casting. This suggests strong links with the Indian subcontinent and Mainland Southeast Asia from the late first millennium BC, some 200 years earlier than previously thought.
Fenner et al. The Journal of Island and Coastal Achaeology, 2017
Two thousand years ago, maritime trade flourished in Southeast Asia and archaeological excavation... more Two thousand years ago, maritime trade flourished in Southeast Asia and archaeological excavations have revealed that Island Southeast Asia played an important role within developing trading networks. The sites of Sembiran and Pacung on the north coast of Bali, Indonesia, have produced a wide range of artifacts that demonstrate links to mainland and island Asia. Here, we examine faunal remains from these sites to assess the role that livestock played in north Bali diet and trade at that time. In addition to abundant pig (Sus cf. scrofa) remains, the sites yielded the earliest securely dated goat (Capra hircus) remains known from Southeast Asia. Moreover carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium stable isotope analyses of bone collagen and tooth apatite indicate that some of these goats were from a markedly different environment than the pig, human, and dog remains from the sites. It is likely that these goats were imported from a different
Pryce et al. Archaeometry, 2018
The Indonesian Archipelago extends over 5000 km of latitude, from 95°E to 141°E, and hosts some o... more The Indonesian Archipelago extends over 5000 km of latitude, from 95°E to 141°E, and hosts some of the world's largest active metal mines. While some fascinating ethnographic and historical sources exist, virtually nothing is known of the country's prehistoric metallurgical traditions. Given Indonesia's scale, this situation cannot be remedied in short order, but with this paper we seek to elucidate some metal production and consumption behaviours on Bali, located around 115°E, during the last centuries of the first millennium BC and the early to middle first millennium AD. The studied early Metal Age assemblage of 27 copper-base artefacts from the sites of Pacung, Sembiran, Bangkah, Pangkung Paruk, Gilimanuk and Manikliyu includes bangle, bowl, drum, hook, mirror and ornamental typologies, and fragments thereof. Fourteen of the 27 samples were suffering from corrosion, but a strong tendency towards leaded copper alloys (21 of 27) can be distinguished, with some bronzes, a high-tin bronze and a leaded hightin bronze. The high proportion of leaded artefacts mean that lead isotope data cannot be used to identify possible sources of copper, but there is good consistency with Mainland SouthEast Asian Iron Age leaded alloy signatures for the bulk of the assemblage, possibly indicating the existence of long-range (~2000-3000 km one way) exchange systems at the outset of the Island SouthEast Asian Metal Age, and perhaps as far as China and India in the case of the mirror and bowl, respectively. Of particular note, the Manikliyu 'Pejeng' drum, a stylistically idiosyncratic type known from Bali and Java, and for which there is local production evidence, transpired to be consistent in terms of elemental composition and lead signature with Mainland 'Dong Son' drums. This could suggest that Pejeng drums were produced not just from metal imported from the Mainland but with melted down Mainland drums; an intriguing case of local reinterpretation of foreign elite material culture and iconography.
Calo et al. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2020
The site of Sembiran on the northern coast of Bali was an important trading harbor with demonstra... more The site of Sembiran on the northern coast of Bali was an important trading harbor with demonstrated intensive links to the Indian subcontinent, the Western Indian Ocean, and Mainland Southeast Asia between the second century BC and the second century AD. Using a combination of excavation and geophysical survey, we have newly mapped a dense network of subsurface structures, which we interpret to be foundations for harbor infrastructure dated to the eighth to ninth centuries AD that were subsequently covered by shoreline aggradation. An assemblage of eighth to twelfth centuries AD Chinese tradeware in dated contexts from our excavations of these shoreline structures and additional trenches further inland suggests a renewal in trade activities at Sembiran, coinciding with the growth of Chinese maritime trade in Island Southeast Asia.
Calo, A. Pratu, 2020
This study examines the significance of the originally Hindu goddess Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī (Dur... more This study examines the significance of the originally Hindu goddess Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī (Durgā slaying the buffalo demon) in Tantric Buddhist temple contexts of the 8th–11th century in Afghanistan and northeastern India, and 11th-century Bali. Taking a cross-regional approach, it considers the genesis of Tantric Buddhism, its transmission to Indonesia, and its significance in Bali during the 10th–11th century. Drawing primarily on archaeological and iconographic evidence, it suggests that Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī is likely to have reached Bali as part of a late 10th–11th century phase of renewed transmission of Tantric Buddhism from the northeastern Indian subcontinent to Indonesia, following an initial late 7th–8th century phase.
Calo et al. Antiquity, 2020
Excavations at the stone sarcophagus burial site of Pangkung Paruk on Bali have yielded the large... more Excavations at the stone sarcophagus burial site of Pangkung Paruk on Bali have yielded the largest collection of Roman gold-glass beads in early Southeast Asia found to date, together with elaborate gold ornaments and two Han Chinese bronze mirrors. Unprecedented in Island Southeast Asia, these artefacts find parallels at Oc Eo in Vietnam, at other sites in the Mekong Delta and on the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Analyses of these new finds and comparison with others from across the region provide insights into the early to mid first-millennium AD trans-Asiatic networks that linked Southeast Asia to South Asia, the Roman world and China.
Bulbeck et al. Asian Perspectives, 2016
Calo et al. Antiquity, 2015
Studies of trade routes across Southeast Asia in prehistory have hitherto focused largely on arch... more Studies of trade routes across Southeast Asia in prehistory have hitherto focused largely on archaeological evidence from Mainland Southeast Asia, particularly the Thai Peninsula and Vietnam. The role of Indonesia and Island Southeast Asia in these networks has been poorly understood, owing to the paucity of evidence from this region. Recent research has begun to fill this void. New excavations at Sembiran and Pacung on the northern coast of Bali have produced new, direct AMS dates from burials, and analytical data from cultural materials including pottery, glass, bronze, gold andsemi-precious stone, as well as evidence of local bronze-casting. This suggests strong links with the Indian subcontinent and Mainland Southeast Asia from the late first millennium BC, some 200 years earlier than previously thought.
Books and PhD Thesis by Ambra Calo
Calo, A. PhD Thesis, SOAS, 2007
This study focuses on the distribution of early bronze drums from their centres of production in ... more This study focuses on the distribution of early bronze drums from their centres of production in north Vietnam throughout Mainland and Island Southeast Asia, as evidence of cultural contact and cross-regional exchange along river and maritime routes during the late Metal Age and the proto-historic period. This is the period just prior to, and overlapping with, the first Chinese and Indian influences in the region. The exchange of bronze drums established alliances between early centres favouring the trade of other goods, and defining early cultural spheres which set the stage for the process of state formation in the historic period. Adopting a synoptic view over the entire distribution across national boundaries, I analyse what types of drums are found where by identifying a series of regional clusters. Each cluster of drums highlights and clarifies specific questions regarding chronology, routes of transmission, the geographical extent of trade networks, and new local bronze casti...
The Distribution of Bronze Drums in Early Southeast Asia - trade routes and cultural spheres
Calo, A. Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports-BAR , 2009
This study focuses on the distribution of early Dong Son bronze drums, from their centres of prod... more This study focuses on the distribution of early Dong Son bronze drums, from their centres of production in north Vietnam throughout Mainland and Island Southeast Asia, as evidence of cultural contact and cross-regional exchange along river and maritime routes from the late Metal Age to the proto-historic period. Adopting a synoptic view over the entire distribution across present national boundaries, the author analyses the implications of what types of drums are found where.
Trails of Bronze Drums Across Early Southeast Asia: Exchange Routes and Connected Cultural Spheres
Calo, A. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies-ISEAS, Singapore, 2014
Book Chapters by Ambra Calo
Heger I Bronze Drums and the Relationships between Dian and Dong Son Cultures
Calo, A. in Bacus, E.A., Glover, I.C. and P.D. Sharrock eds. 'Interpreting Southeast Asia's Past - Monument, Image and Text', NUS Press, 2008
Calo, A. in Exhibition Catalogue 'A Passage to Asia - 25 centuries of exchange between Asia and Europe', BOZAR, Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels. Curated by J. V. Alphen and K. Kwok, 2010
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Papers by Ambra Calo
Books and PhD Thesis by Ambra Calo
Book Chapters by Ambra Calo