The discovery of ancient coins and artefacts along the bank of Sungai Kelantan has been shown by TV9 News on 21 February 2014. The news spread like wildfire and prospectors, coming from near and far, have reportedly dug up keris, spears, earthen jars and porcelain plates as well as some Kelantan Pitis coins.
It is understood that the dry spell, which started last month, had caused the long-sunken treasure to be easily noticed.
Today, The Star News reported that The National Heritage Department has stop all the illegal treasure hunting and put a stop to the prospecting. National Heritage Department official Rokiah Abdul Samat also sought the help of the Pasir Mas police to prevent anyone from entering the area while her officers excavate for artefacts to determine their origins.
The department declared a kilometre radius from the site of the treasure horde as “out of bounds” to the public while its officers carry out the excavation and site preservation works.
Police have cordoned off the area since Saturday for the work, which is expected to end on March 13.
Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar was recently reported to have urged the locals to keep away from the area as the artefacts found were a state heritage and could be related to an ancient kingdom in the area.
He also urged the people not to disturb the area as it would hamper progress by National Heritage Department workers in finding clues to the origins of the artefacts.
In the earlier report by TV9 News, local said that the Kelantan ancient treasure hoard owned by Puteri Saadong, the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang (Che Siti), the legendary Queen of Kelantan. The villagers claimed that in the ancient time there is an island in the river, which is home to Puteri Saadong. They can borrow plates from that places for their family feast.
Hopefully everyone who found Ancient Treasure from the Sungai Kelantan can give it back to the National Heritage Department team.
Under National Heritage Act 2005, if you find any treasure of National Heritage, you need to inform a commissioner of heritage or a district officer to declare your find. Anyone who caught in their possession of undeclared artefacts can be fined up to RM50,000 and/or jailed for not more than five years.
Source: The Star.
