SHIPWRECKS dating as far back as two millennia have been discovered to be entombed in an

ancient riverbed. If you turn back the clock to 535 BC, the vast swathes of lush greenery before
your eyes will remarkably transform into a thriving, industrious landscape dotted with dozens of
iron smelting factories, at least 12 well established jetties and many more well-planned
administrative buildings. It’s a remarkably incongruous visage of one of the oldest civilisations in
the world.
If you’re now thinking that this is a recently discovered lost civilisation in the dense tropical
jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula or South America, built by either the fearsome Mayans or
Aztecs, well think again. This latest ground-breaking discovery predating many well-known
ancient civilisations is found right here in our very own backyard. To be exact, it’s located in
Malaysia’s northern state of Kedah.
Armed with these tantalising facts related to me recently by a friend, I make my way to the main
entrance of the Sungai Batu archaeological site. I’m excited and ready to see for myself the
many amazing discoveries that are set to rewrite history textbooks in the near future.
Acting on my friend’s advice, I quickly sign up for a guided tour that costs only RM10 for locals.
The tour, conducted by graduate students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), allows visitors
access into many key areas within the excavation complex which currently houses nearly 100
excavated sites. Be forewarned that most of these important sites are off-limits to those who opt
for free access to the area.