Islam in the Kei Islands, Southeastern Maluku, Indonesia: Archaeology and Oral History of Islamization from the 17th to 20th Centuries AD

Abstract

The Kei Islands in eastern Indonesia form part of a vital trade route connecting various regions of the Maluku Islands, and as such were also central to the Islamization of the region. Islamic archaeological research in the region aims to explore the processes by which this happened and the paths it followed, although the subject remains underinvestigated. As an area comprising many large and small islands, the uniqueness of the Kei Islands adds to the attraction of researching inter-island relations in the past, especially in the context of Islamic cultural contact and inter-island trade. Research for the current study was conducted through archaeological surveys and excavations, combined with an oral history approach, to gather information about how cultural interactions and regional trade dynamics promoted Islamization. Archaeological surveys identified relevant sites associated with traces of Islamization, while excavations provided concrete material data related to past community life. Meanwhile, oral traditions have preserved local narratives that are not recorded in written historical accounts but that live on in the collective memory of the local community. The research offers a new understanding of the role of villages and the dynamics of the Islamization process in the maritime communities of the past. It also highlights the importance of the Kei Islands as a meeting point for various cultural and religious influences and their significant role in connecting multiple regions in Maluku.

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