Ancient croc effigies to lure eco-tourists to Sarawak

MIRI: Ancient crocodile effigies are set to become another of Sarawak's ecological tourism attractions to snap up the tourist ringgit. Carved from earth and used as part of rituals practised by the Iban and Lun Bawang communities, the 3,000-year-old effigies symbolise the enduring spirit of the crocodile. The tropical amphibious reptile, it must be noted, outlived the dinosaurs that ruled the earth millions of years ago.

Sarawak Museum director Ipoi Datan said the effigies, which symbolise the spirit of the crocodiles, were discovered in over 70 locations between Betong Division in the southern part of the state and Lawas, Sarawak's northernmost district. "We have started carrying out a survey on the sites of the effigies in 2004 and the works were intensified, three years later.

"The biggest found so far, is about 53 feet (16.2 metre) long," he said here recently. From survey works, he said, over 40 sites belonging to the Iban community were found between Betong Division and Balingian, in the Mukah Division. He said the Iban community was noted for practising hill paddy farming and had a traditional belief that the effigy played a role to protect their crops.

"The effigy will be used for the 'Malik Umai' ritual, where the traditional Iban farming community believes it (effigy) possesses a crocodile's spirit to frighten away pests attempting to destroy their crops," said Ipoi. In the case of the ancient Lun Bawang community, he said a crocodile effigy was carved to become the centre of celebration for successful head-hunting trips. He said the earthen effigies that hardened over the years also served as land boundary markers.

With some members of the Lun Bawang community migrating beyond the state over the years, he said they also brought along the tradition with them that led to several crocodile effigies found in the neighbouring state, Sabah. He said the archeological values of the effigies were on par with the megaliths or stone structures found in Sarawak. 

- Bernama.