KUCHING: The compound of the Central Police Station here today yielded several artifacts believed to date back to the 1880s.
As a result, whatever construction work was going on at the place has to be put on hold to make way for archaeological workers to carry out their investigations.
State Museum Department Curator (Conservation Sector), Nicholas Baby Henry, said they received a report on the findings from the Public Works Department on Wednesday.
He said the work site is being studied by the department’s archaeological unit.
In 2018, excavation around Padang Pasir also led to the discovery of old railway tracks.
“These artifacts will be taken to the Museum Department and we will do an in-depth and thorough analysis of the history,” he said told New Sarawak Tribune during his site visit.
Nicholas also added that most of the artifacts were pottery pieces from China or Europe, and possibly from London during the early Brooke era.
“The archaeological excavations at the site might take two or three days before a full report can be made.
“Aside from studying the site itself, we will also study the age and history of the artifacts.
Some of the artifacts found so far. 
Staff members of the archaeological unit search for more artifacts at the work site.
“It is to determine whether there was an old settlement in the area. It is presumed that these artifacts could have been disposed of here,” he said.
A staff member of the archaeological unit said there could be more artifacts at the site, which would require further investigation.
Additionally, under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019, any findings in the form of old artifacts must be reported to the Sarawak Museum Department or submitted to the department immediately.
