International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) academic Prof Dr Solehah Yaacob has once again sparked discussion online, this time over a theory linking Kedah’s abundance of iron to meteor activity in the distant past.
In a recent sharing titled “Besi Dari Langit | Mengapa Kedah Kaya Dengan Besi?”, Solehah raised questions about where Kedah’s iron came from and whether the state’s geography could be connected to the iron found around Sungai Batu.
Professor Solehah presented the perspective that the iron found in Kedah may be connected to meteors, while the area surrounding Gunung Jerai has also been linked to possible past meteor impacts.
Questions whether meteor activity could explain Kedah’s iron
Rather than presenting the idea simply as a confirmed conclusion, Solehah framed the topic around several questions concerning Kedah’s geography, geology and ancient civilisation.
Among the issues raised were why Kedah’s terrain differs from areas along the Titiwangsa Range, whether meteor activity can be linked to iron deposits, and why the discovery of iron at Sungai Batu is significant to understanding ancient Kedah.
She also discussed whether the relatively flat landscape around parts of Kedah could provide clues about the geological history of the area.
The wider argument connects geography and natural resources with the development of civilisation, particularly the emergence of iron technology in ancient Kedah.
Gunung Jerai brought into the discussion
Solehah’s sharing also associated the area surrounding Gunung Jerai with the possibility of meteor impacts occurring in the distant past.
She suggested that this could be explored alongside the significant quantities of iron discovered around Sungai Batu.
However, her post did not cite geological studies establishing that Gunung Jerai or the surrounding area is a confirmed ancient meteor impact site.
Neither did it present evidence proving that Kedah’s terrestrial iron ore deposits originated from meteorites.
As such, the meteor connection remains a perspective raised for discussion rather than an established geological conclusion.
Sungai Batu was an important ancient iron production centre
What has been established through archaeological research is that ancient Kedah had a significant iron smelting industry.
Research at the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex has uncovered furnaces, iron slags, iron ore and other evidence pointing to large scale iron production in the area.
A peer-reviewed study examining iron ore associated with Sungai Batu identified minerals including hematite, magnetite and goethite.
Researchers also compared material found at the archaeological site with natural iron ore sources in surrounding areas and found evidence suggesting the raw materials used for smelting were sourced from locations roughly 1km to 11km from Sungai Batu.
Existing studies therefore support the presence of locally available iron resources and an extensive ancient iron industry in Kedah.
They do not, however, establish a meteoritic origin for those deposits.
‘Not just a discussion about iron’
In explaining the purpose behind the sharing, Solehah said the topic was not merely about where iron came from.
Instead, it was intended to encourage people to reconsider the relationship between geography, natural resources, technology and the development of civilisation.
She argued that physical evidence could raise new questions about the history of the Malay world and help researchers explore how access to natural resources may have influenced the growth of ancient societies.
Solehah has previously researched and discussed iron in ancient Kedah.
IIUM’s research repository lists a 2023 paper by her titled “Revealing the book of Islamic scholars, Al Biruni about the iron from Calah”, presented during a seminar on ancient Kedah civilisation.
Previously sparked debate over Malay history
Solehah has made headlines before over several interpretations of ancient Malay history.
She later described the argument as a research hypothesis based on classical Arabic sources.
Following the controversy, IIUM said comments made by Solehah were in her personal capacity and did not represent the university’s official position.
The university also stressed the importance of ensuring public academic statements are backed by credible research and evidence.
