Bukit Tengkorak

Bukit Tengkorak is the eroded rim of an old volcano above the sea near Semporna, and excavation there from the 1980s established it as one of the largest prehistoric pottery-making sites in Southeast Asia, worked from roughly three thousand years ago. What made it significant beyond its size was the obsidian: volcanic glass found in the deposits was sourced to New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago, thousands of kilometres east, which is direct evidence of long-distance maritime exchange across the western Pacific at that period and connects the site to the wider Austronesian expansion. There is an archaeological heritage centre at the foot with finds and interpretation, and a path up to the rim with a view over the islands. The name means skull hill, from remains found there.

History

Joint excavations by the Centre for Archaeological Research of Malaysia and the Sabah Museum in 1994 and 1995 identified the hill as the largest pottery-making site in Southeast Asia in the Neolithic, with sherds dating from 3,000 years ago, and the Bajau of Semporna still make pottery in a similar way (Wikipedia, Skull Hill, Malaysia).

What you'll find

• A prehistoric pottery site - among the largest in Southeast Asia, worked 3,000 years ago.
• Obsidian from New Britain - evidence of trade thousands of kilometres east.
• A volcanic crater rim - the eroded cone with a view over the Semporna islands.
• A heritage centre - finds and interpretation at the foot of the hill.

When to go

March to October; morning before the heat on the open rim. Half a day.

What to expect

The climb is short but steep and fully exposed. The heritage centre is small and hours can be irregular. There is little to see of the excavation itself - the story is in the display.

Nearby

Semporna and the island jetties are a short drive.

Key facts