Agop Batu Tulug Museum Showcases Orang Sungai Ancient Treasures

By Suraidah Roslan

KINABATANGAN, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- The Agop Batu Tulug limestone cave, perched 39 metres above ground, is not only a historical site housing ancient belian (ironwood) coffins, but has also emerged as one of the tourism products in this district.

Local communities believe the Agop Batu Tulug cave, located about 35 kilometres from the Kinabatangan district town, served as the final refuge of the Orang Sungai ethnic community that long inhabited the banks of the Kinabatangan River, and has since been developed into a historical museum.

Agop in the Orang Sungai language means cave, while Tulug refers to a bed, signifying a final resting place.

The uniqueness of the museum lies in the discovery of more than 125 coffins made of ironwood, which are neatly arranged in three main caves, namely Agop Sawat (Upper Cave), Agop Litanga (Middle Cave) and Agop Suriba (Lower Cave).

Head of the Agop Batu Tulug Museum Office John Semuel@Samuel, 59, said that although various legends and myths surround the discovery, their authenticity has yet to be scientifically proven.

He said the coffins, estimated to be between 500 and 900 years old, are often linked to the influence of foreign traders, particularly from China, but so far, there is no strong evidence to support such claims.

“The placement of the coffins in elevated cave areas is believed to have been intended to prevent them from being swept away by floodwaters, as earlier communities built their settlements along riverbanks.

“The finely carved coffins display flora and fauna motifs, including animal heads such as banteng or buffalo, believed to belong to the nobility, while the uncarved coffins in Agop Litanga were meant for ordinary folk,” John told Bernama recently.

Besides the cave, which is believed to have been discovered in 1984, he said ancient ironwood coffins have also been found at 12 other sites along Sabah’s east coast, including Gua Gomantong, Batu Supu, Miasis Darat, Agop Sarupi and Gua Madai in Kunak, with an estimated total exceeding 2,000 coffins.

John, who has served at the museum for 27 years, said there are currently no plans to nominate the site as a World Archaeological Heritage Site under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Meanwhile, Sabah State Museum deputy director Aldofus Lester John Milip said that in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, the Sabah State Museum Department will intensify promotional efforts to position the museum as one of Sabah’s key tourism destinations.

“Upgrading works have been fully completed, and the museum is expected to reopen to the public in February after being closed since May 2023,” he said.

He said that since coming under the management of the Sabah State Museum Department in 1996, Agop Batu Tulug has transformed into a site museum, allowing present generations to better appreciate its historical value and space.

“We want to raise public awareness on the importance of preserving this unique culture. As a further step, we are also collaborating with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to conduct archaeological research related to the discovery of these ancient wooden coffins,” he said.

He added that the Agop Batu Tulug Museum is not merely a place that houses coffins, but reflects the respect, beliefs and identity of the Orang Sungai community that should be preserved.

-- BERNAMA