ARTI PENTING SITUS-SITUS PELABUHAN KUNA DI KARAWANG, JAWA BARAT, SEBAGAI JALUR TRANSPORTASI

Abstract

Karawang is a district in West Java province in which the river territory were continuously flowing and were identified as old Citarum River and Cilamaya River which lies in the northern part of Java Sea. The Northern coast of Karawang has many gulf estuaries. The existence of port, rivers, and coastal areas in Karawang emerged in the 16th century and in the 17th century as well as on written documents of Portuguese sources, and also from those documents of Vereenigde Oost India Company (VOC). The Northern coast of Karawang were crowded by navigation of merchant ships and patrol boats. From those facts of course raises the question of where was these ports originated in Karawang. This study aimed to uncover, identify, ancient ports which was located on the northern coast of Karawang based on the written documents, archaeological remains, and its natural environment. By using surveys, interviews, the results of this research found out the significance of the ancient ports were located at the banks of the Citarum River, the banks of the mouth of a river in Pasir Putih, and Tangkolak River estuary. Those ports function for ships as it landed ashore and also as river transportation mode. Through these ports trading took place, the spread of Islam and also served as ships patrol. By searching through the names on the written documents, as well as ecological and remains, archaeological remains were found, some of which have been investigated functions as ancient ports which was mentioned by De Barros.

Keywords

• the northern coast of western java, karawang, harbors, estuaries, rivers.