Kota Batu Archaeological Park

Kota Batu was the seat of the Brunei sultanate from around the fifteenth century, when the state controlled much of Borneo and the southern Philippines, and excavation there has turned up Chinese ceramics, coins and building remains showing how far the trade reached. The site sits on the riverbank east of the modern capital. The Brunei Museum and the Malay Technology Museum stand nearby.

Background

The park spans 120 acres in Kampong Kota Batu, some 5 kilometres from Bandar Seri Begawan, and the site is said to have been Brunei's capital from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Chinese records from 977 CE describe timber walls, and stone walls were added under Sultan Sharif Ali in the 15th century. Tom Harrisson led the first excavation in 1952-1953, digging 417 ditches and finding Chinese coins dated 723 to 1425, from the Tang, Song and Ming dynasties. Work from 1986 to 1997 exposed a square stone building measuring 25.8x25.4 metres and set with 13 pillar bases, probably from the 15th century. Visitors walk a 1,580 metres promenade, with rest huts and a bridge to Terindak Island.

Source: Wikipedia, "Kota Batu Archaeological Park"

What's there

• The old capital - the seat of the sultanate at the height of its reach.
• The trade finds - Chinese ceramics and coins showing the extent of the network.
• The riverbank position - the site's setting on the water east of the city.
• The nearby museums - the Brunei Museum and Malay Technology Museum alongside.

When to go

Year round. Mornings are cooler for walking the site. The nearby museums keep set hours and close on some days.

Before you go

Very little is visible above ground and the site needs the museum context to make sense. Interpretation on the ground is limited. The Brunei Museum itself has been closed for extended periods.

Nearby

The Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah is nearby, and Bandar Seri Begawan is west.

Key facts