Achinese Stones
This is a type of gravestone carved by the Achinese between the 15th and the 19th century. They were widely distributed in the Malay and Indonesian archipelago. They were used to embellish the graves of Malay royal families and chieftains. These tombstones are regarded as a heritage of Malay civilization.
Their form and decoration show a combination of the art both before and after the arrival of Islam. It records the name of the deceased and the date of death. It also has quotations from the Quran and poems with reference to death.
Some of the gravestones are regarded by the local people as Keramat (Shrines). Keramat used to play an important role in the Malay social system even though it is against the teaching of Islam. The have however been preserved here as symbols of Malay creativity, inventiveness, artistry and a way of life of the past.
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