Industry in Kelantan: notes on research directions

Abstract

Throughout history, production and reproduction is the central theme of mankind running from the past, leading into the present and moving into the future. Industry in its various forms are but mere groupings of human activities, in the sphere of production and reproduction. These categorizations change and develop new meaning with every emergence of a new historical age. The driving force of these changes in the different sectors of industry is the development of technology. This talk will outline the historical basis for the development of industry in Kelantan and will draw the attention of archaeologists and other researchers in the directions we should take, with imagination, in mapping out this fascinating and important theme in Kelantan history. The earliest forms of human activity in the process of production are hunting and gathering activities. The technology of that period was limited to the basic needs of mankind - food, shelter, clothing and biological reproduction. Here the archaeologists can best advise us on the types of equipment used by these early societies the shapes and types of stone instruments, spears, blow-pipes (sumpit) and other early tools. Related to this basic framework of production is the question of how labour was organised and how the fruits of that labour was distributed. The social relations of production and exchange in every historical age has its own characteristics.