Plans to turn the Kota Batu archaeological site into an open-site museum where visitors can view ruins of Brunei's ancient capital are in the pipeline, a Museums official told The Brunei Times yesterday.
The archaeological site located near the tomb of Sultan Bolkiah has been under excavation since the 1950s, but recent discoveries of a defensive wall and a gate to the ancient capital have heightened interest in possible unearthed treasures that lie in the 120-acre site.
Mariani Hj Abu Bakar, public relations officer for the Museums Department, said the department has been planning the open-site museum for some time, but they are just awaiting official approval before launching the site for the public.
"The concept for the museum will be similar but not exactly the same as the open-site area we have at the Labu Estate in Temburong where people can see the last memories of the rubber industry in Brunei," she said.
The artefacts at the Kota Batu Archaeological Park date back to the 14th century and are divided in two sites - KB I and KB II.
So far wood and stone structures and intact earthenware have been found at the site but the discoveries are only a small amount of what has yet to be unearthed.
Museums officials are still hoping to uncover the ancient Royal palace and mosque among other artefacts buried along the Brunei River.
"Excavation on the site began in the 1950s under Dr Tom Harrison of the Sarawak Museum and some works were done again in the 1980s but has continued on and off since then mostly due to our budget (constraints) and lack of manpower," said Mariani. "But excavation started again lastyear due to the discovery of the gateway and wall of the old capital."
The museums official said that the process of uncovering the artefacts would be long and arduous due to the delicate nature of the work. She added that the department might recruit research students and volunteers to help the archaeological officers with the excavation of the site.
"The development of the site will be done in phases under the ninth National Development Plan (RKN 9). The further development of the site and museum is important be-cause it is evidence of our history," she said.
The resumption of works, which began in May last year, include connecting and upgrading existing walkways built in the 1980s leading to sites around the area that were previously disconnected from one another due to insufficient funds.
Now with a total budget of $2 million under RKN 9, the department has used about $366,000 to connect and extend the walkways, construct rest huts and build a bridge to the remains of a man-made island believed to serve as a dock for small ships in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The first stage of the second phase of the Kota Barn excavation and restoration project was completed last month and the department has plans to develop the KB I site, which is believed to have been a burial site for royalty and aristocrats, at a cost of roughly $1.5 million.
Author: Quratul-Ain Bandial | Source: The Brunei Times [December 19, 2010]