Early History/ Contents

Cist graves and boat and mound burials

Leong Sau Heng

Archaeological records indicate that prehistoric Malaysian burial customs not only varied according to region, but sometimes even within a community. Some of the more uncommon types of ancient burials found in Malaysia include secondary burials in boat-shaped coffins and primary burials in dugout canoes, clay mounds and cist graves.

  • Information in the full article includes
  • Boat-shaped coffins
  • Burials in dugout canoes
  • Burials in clay mounds
  • Cist graves
Dugout canoe

Dated to around 200 BCE, this occupant of Kuala Selingsing, Perak, was buried in a dugout canoe accompanied by his steering puddle.