SOME REFLECTIONS ON ANCIENT ISLAMIC TOMBSTONES KNOWN AS BATU ACEH IN THE MALAY WORLD.

Among ancient Islamic tombstones in the Malay world, the style known as batu Aceh is an unique source for the regional history of Islam because of its sophistication and wide distribution, from southern Thailand to south Sulawesi, as well as the richness of its epigraphical data. Systematic studies initiated a century ago have yielded several typologies, including one by the author based on five basic shapes. Several indications point seemingly to the appearance of this style at the beginning of the 15th century in the Lhokseumawe area, the former centre of the Pasai sultanate. Batu Aceh, which were made of sandstone, appear to represent a break with other contemporary or older traditions observed locally. Yet similarities have been identified with architectural features in Central Java dating to the 9th century, and with Siamese funerary monuments. Batu Aceh were intended mostly for sultans, high ranking individuals, their relatives, and probably high profile merchants. After a sharp decline and disappearance in some areas between the second quarter of the 18th century and mid-19th century, probably in connection with the emergence of orthodox movements, batu Aceh experienced a revival still visible in north Sumatra (Barus), Kedah, Pahang, and Penang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]