{"id":92,"date":"2023-06-22T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T01:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/?p=92"},"modified":"2023-06-23T09:20:52","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T01:20:52","slug":"pogunon-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/pogunon-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"Pogunon Community Museum and the Secrets of the Dead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the year 2000, an unexpected discovery unfolded at Pogunon Village, nestled on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu City, leaving the entire Sabah astounded. The unearthing of an ancient cemetery reignited the recollections of burial and megalithic cultures<\/strong> prevalent in Sabah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Entrance<\/a>
Entrance to Pogunon Community Museum. The entry is free.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Standing on this hallowed ground, the Pogunon Community Museum (known as Muzium Komuniti Pogunon or Muzium Tapak Perkuburan Purba Pogunon in Malay) invites visitors to behold the burial jars and old graves, while delving into the haunting tales of headhunting and the revered Bobohizan<\/em>, the high priestess of the Kadazan people, who once graced this site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The exhibition hall of Pogunon Community Museum is about the size of a basketball court and has air-conditioning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pogunon is named after a native plant, Sorim Pogun<\/em>. It also means “bekas yang ditinggalkan”, which is translated as “the traces left behind.” because in old days this village was in war, the villagers were ambushed and fled into forest, then came back next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discovery of the Pogunon Cemetery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In January 2000, the construction of KEMAS Kindergarten building at Pogunon Village (or Kampung Pogunon) led to the finding of four burial jars<\/strong> (three of them are complete and have human bones in them), blue-and-white plates, and bowls. These ceramics originated from China between the 16th and 19th centuries.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Excavations<\/a>
Sabah Museum carried out excavations at Pogunon in 2000, 2007 and 2008 to rescue the buried heritages. (Photo Credit: Sabah Museum)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Further excavations conducted by Sabah Museum<\/a> dug up thirteen ancient burial jars from an old graveyard in front of the St. Joseph Chapel in the same village. The lidded burial pots contain artifacts such as coins dating back to 1885, bangle, belt (himpogot<\/a><\/em>) made from ancient silver coins, jewelry and decorated ceramics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ancient<\/a>
Ancient burial jars exhibited in Sabah Museum. The one at the right is from Pogunon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The people buried in jars are usually those who have high social status<\/strong> such as Bobohizans and headhunter warriors, so this cemetery is important in cultural anthropology. Some graves belong to the ancestors of the current generations living in Pogunon. In fact, 60% of this village is an ancient burial ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pogunon<\/a>
Pogunon Community Museum is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm. It’s closed on Sunday and public holidays.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The site is gazetted in 2000 to protect this ancient graveyard and its megaliths, which served as grave markers. Pogunon Community Museum is built in situ in 2004 to showcase its artifacts and history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Past of Pogunon Village<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though Kampung Pogunon is a quiet village nowadays, it’s quite a happening place in the past. The small village is situated on the flat plains under Crocker Range<\/a> and next to a river, so it was a suitable meeting point for mountain and coastal tribes, who used to barter trade with one another. For example, Bajau people from seaside can exchange for forest stuffs with Dusun from the interior with seafood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Group<\/a>
Group visit to Pogunon Museum by participants of Sabah Dark Tourism workshop. This museum is listed as one of the attractions of dark tourism.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An article dated 1st July 1884 on North Borneo Herald newspaper stated that Pogunon was the largest tamu (native market)<\/a> in west coast that time.<\/strong> The tamu of Pogunon was held every 10 days and is considered as one of the earliest known tamu. Some inhabitants were wealthy because of this blooming marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Old<\/a>
Old ceramic plates and bowls that were buried with the jars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, here comes the interesting and important part, there were Chinese merchants who also traded in this tamu market. Their ships brought in some China products such as ceramic jars, plates, crocks, dishware and other ornaments, which were used for exchanging herbs, spices, hardwood, agarwood, resin and even birds feathers from the locals. This explains where the Chinese jars of Pogunon coming from. Some of the Chinese married the native Dusun and settled in Sabah. Therefore, almost every villagers in Pogunon Village have Chinese connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burial Jars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is a collection of about 20 burial jars in different size and designs being displayed in the exhibition hall of Pogunon Museum<\/strong>, together with other artifacts such as plates, skeleton and headhunting sword. On the walls are information boards with photographs and description, in English and Malay, on the burial and megalithic cultures of Sabah Borneo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Collection<\/a>
Collection of burial jars at Pogunon Community Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In old days, Kadazandusun, the largest indigenous group of Sabah, has been practicing burial by jars (jar is locally known as tajau<\/em>) for centuries. The natives believed that jar is the home and shelter for the deceased in the next world.<\/strong> The dead body was stored in fetal position in a large jar, normally at least a metre in height. If the mouth of jar was too narrow, they would cut the jar in half along the rim, so they could fit the corpse inside and joined the pieces again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Skeleton<\/a>
Skeleton remains in the burial jar of Pogunon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Favourite personal adornments and belongings of the deceased like plate, bowl, ceramic, silver coin belts, ring, button, necklace, beads, bracelet, and shoes would be placed in the jar too. The mouth of the jar was then sealed with a plate and resin or bee wax. For leaders or village heads, gong would be used as the cover. Lastly the burial ceremony was completed with rituals and prayers led by Bobohizan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Antique<\/a>
Antique jars of Sabah from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries (photo in Sabah Museum). The oldest China ceramic found in Sabah is from Song Dynasty period (960-1279).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ceramic jar was a luxury item, so burial by jar is only for the prestigious people. Majority of ceramic jars at Pogunon belong to headhunters and Bobohizans. The commoners were normally buried in bamboo or wooden casket, or cheap (brown) earthen jars. The most expensive jars are from China, especially those with beautiful engraved or embossed patterns. The oldest jar found in Pogunon is about 800 years old<\/strong> (and is given to Sabah Museum).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Storytelling<\/a>
It’s a special experience to listen to the ancestor stories that happened right under our feet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Owning one or more big and beautiful jar was a sign of wealth, probably same as owning a designer handbag from Herm\u00e8s Birkin today. The valuable ceramic jars from Pogunon are in blue and white, or five colours, which were made during Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty periods in China.<\/strong> The locals also used jars for many purposes, for example, heirloom, currency for trading, storage, brewing wine, dowry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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