Visited the multiple sites in January 2019. I was invited by the Lenggong Museum authority to join an expedition on training the local guides. We started from the archaeological museum where the Kota Tampan site is situated. The museum is now reopened after two years of renovation with first floor containing artefacts and the famous Perak Man skeleton. The second floor is more to general information and two suevites with stone axes from Bukit Bunuh, evidence to proof that Lenggong was occupied as early as 1.83 million years ago, the earliest outside Africa. The Kota Tampan site behind the museum was a bit disappointing as the roof that covered the site was being torn down by the monkeys and the site got flooded after the rain.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to Gunung Runtuh Cave and Kajang Cave under Bukit Kepala Gajah, situated behind the Kampung (village) Gelok area. One has to walk through a dense forest (now rubber plantation) to reach the bottom of the cave, then hike almost vertically through the sharp limestone to reach the cave. The entrance of the cave is now facilitated with a heavy barred door and patrolled by guards daily. The only way to get in is to approach the museum in advance and they will offer someone to guide you in. Gua Gunung Runtuh is actually quite small, but important to the region because of the finding. It was the place where a 10120 years old male (Perak Man) born with congenital deformity was found. According to research done he was probably a shaman due to the smooth teeth surface (to chew herbs) and the way he was carefully buried in the center of the cave. There are also abundant layers of shells in situ, indicating that he was buried in a grand and respected ceremony. Gua Kajang is 10 minutes drive from Gua Gunung Runtuh. It’s where two female skeletons were found at the entrance of the cave.

We also visited Bukit Sapi, situated at the roadside, where the 74000 years old volcanic ash of the Mount Toba (Sumatra, Indonesia) eruption could be found. It’s a white wall with some part being excavated. There’s a signboard introducing the incident. Gua Badak was the final place that we visited (didn’t get to visit Gua Harimau just next to it due to time). The mural painting on the cave wall was relatively new compare to the environment. One is because it’s drawn with charcoal, the other one is because there’s a CAR with tyres on it. So it’s probably done by the indigenous people here not more than a hundred years ago.

Does it worth a visit? It’s very interesting if you’re interested at archaeology and anthropology. But you’ll be looking only at caves and stones if you didn’t any professional guide to bring you around. My suggestion is to contact the museum in advance (tengah@heritage.gov.my) and mention my name Michael and they will know what you’re looking for.