Colonial Singapore: Archaelogical vs. Historical Records The Fort Serapong Case Study

Abstract

The comprehension of Singapore's colonial heritage and history had been predominantly drawn from texts. Adopting a historical archaeology approach to the exploration of the 19th and 20th century colonial past provides a much-needed different perspective from material cultural remains to interpret and evaluate the past. Archaeological research undertaken in Singapore at Fort Canning, Empress Place, Old Parliament House, Parliament House Complex, Colombo Court, the Padang, and St.Andrew's Cathedral had so far focused on pre-colonial origins of the island, with the historic study of the 19th and early 20th century colonial period in Singapore under-researched and under-explored.The archaeological investigations at Fort Serapong, Blakang Mati will serve as a case study in examining a colonial period site through the lens of the historical archaeologist, and illustrate the potential of archaeology to provide new interpretation and dimension to a site where historical records exist.