8,000-year-old human remains found

KUALA BERANG: Skeletal remains believed to be those of a pre-historic human were found in the Gua Bewah Cave in the Kenyir Lake area here.

The remains were estimated to be between 8,000 and 11,000 years old, said deputy director of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Prof Datuk Dr Nik Hasan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman.

The remains were uncovered by archaeologists from UKM, the Museums Department and the Terengganu Museum Board at a depth of 65 to 70cm, he told reporters after a visit by Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.

Ancient remains: Terengganu Museum assistant director Rashid Hamat pointing out the features of the prehistoric human skeleton found at Gua Bewah in Tasek Kenyir Saturday.

A white cobra was seen guarding the burial ground when the archaeologists were excavating the site in November last year. However the cobra was said to have disappeared since then.

“When excavation work started, the snake emerged but it did not disturb our team,” assistant director of Terengganu Museums historical department Rashid Hamat told Ahmad, who visited the cave yesterday.

The find was the second in the Kenyir Lake area, the first one being in the Batu Tok Bidan Cave in 1975.

DNA samples from the remains had been sent to the United States for analysis and results are expected by next month.

Dr Nik Hasan Shuhaimi, who is heading the team of archaeologists, said pieces of pottery believed to date back to the Neolithic Age (4000BC to 2200BC, or between 6000 to 4000 years ago) were also found there.

“Among the pieces of pottery are some bearing what looks like rock painting which researchers have dug up at Neolithic Age sites elsewhere in the country,” he said.

Ahmad said the state government would carry on with excavation to find other historical artifacts.

He said the artifacts found at the Bewah Cave would be kept for public viewing at the site, and not in a museum, in a move to draw more visitors to Kenyir Lake.

On his proposal to promote Kenyir Lake by setting up a bird island, a butterfly island and an orchid garden there, he said they were being implemented.

“The Bird Island with more than 40 species of birds is expected to be opened to the public in April. The Orchid Garden, with wild orchids, is expected to be opened in six months and the Butterfly Island will be opened later,” he said.

source: The star online, February 7, 2010