Country
Fossil hunting in Malaysia
The oldest fossil in Malaysia is a trilobite in the sandstone of Langkawi. The Langkawi archipelago carries the most complete Palaeozoic record in the region, spanning 540 to 250 million years. A geoforest park is built across its oldest unit.
Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park covers the sandstone ridge on the northwest of the main island. The saukiid trilobite found in the Machinchang sandstone is the oldest fossil recorded in the country.
Kilim Karst Geoforest Park on the east side is the other half of the story, in younger limestone. Trilobites, gastropods and brachiopods occur there, and the Langkawi Geopark Discovery Centre stands in the park as the interpretation point for the whole archipelago.
1 fossil site
Updated 12 September 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is the oldest fossil in Malaysia?
- A saukiid trilobite from the Cambrian Machinchang sandstone on Langkawi. It is the oldest of four formations that together give Langkawi the most complete Palaeozoic record in the region.
- Can you collect fossils on Langkawi?
- No. The fossil localities sit inside geoforest parks within a UNESCO Global Geopark and are protected. Visit the Langkawi Geopark Discovery Centre in Kilim for the interpretation.