“Mystery, History, and Heritage: Exploring the Kelirieng of Sarawak”

🌳 What is a Kelirieng?

From afar, it might look like a totem pole—but up close, it’s an imposing figure standing around 50 metres tall! 😮 A kelirieng is a burial pole, crafted for beloved leaders and aristocrats of the Punan community. Each one carries centuries of tradition, culture, and mystery… and yes, it even involved human sacrifice—more on that later.

The Punan Bah, who live in the upper reaches of the Rajang River, Sarawak, are often confused with the nomadic Penan, but they have distinct languages, customs, and death rituals. Unlike the Penan, who bury their dead immediately, the Punan practice secondary burial, which is where the kelirieng comes in.

🌲 Crafting a Kelirieng
Made from belian wood, each kelirieng begins as a massive tree, carefully selected, chopped, and transported to the village. A trusted master carver then transforms the trunk into a towering work of art. Every detail carries meaning, and a single kelirieng can take 3–5 years to complete.

⚰️ The Ritual & Controversy
Historically, erecting a kelirieng involved a human sacrifice—usually a young female slave—to prevent misfortune. The secondary burial occurs during the next harvest season: the aristocrat’s remains are placed in jars called tajau, which are then positioned in the kelirieng. The more important the person, the higher the compartment. Multiple royal family members could share a single kelirieng, each compartment sealed with fast-decaying wood like empelai or meranti.

📉 Preserving History
Today, only 7 kelirieng remain in the Punan Bah area; others have been lost to fire, neglect, or nature. In 2008, a longhouse fire destroyed four, and heavy rain recently brought down two more along the Penyarai River.

Dr. Chai’s research aims to map all existing kelirieng, assess their condition, and document their designs and cultural significance using drones, cameras, and interviews. So far, 28 sites have been catalogued in Kapit and Bintulu, with efforts ongoing to find more. Preserving these cultural treasures is truly a race against time. ⏳

🌏 Where to See Them

Old Sarawak Museum: 1 kelirieng
Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur: 2 kelirieng
Brunei: 1 kelirieng

These towering monuments are more than wooden poles—they’re a testament to the rich heritage of the Punan people and a story that deserves to be remembered.

📷Borneo Talk