Researchers stumbled upon a discovery of historic value – the skeleton of a teenage girl believed to be from the Mesolithic period – while excavating Gua Chawan in the Malaysian state of Kelantan.
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| Department of National Heritage senior museum assistant Khairil Amri Abd Ghani examining the skeleton found in Gua Chawan, Kelantan [Credit: Bernama] |
The team from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, along with officers from the archaeology department at the National Heritage Department, estimated the remains to be around 6,000 to 8,000 years old.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi said the discovery was crucial in helping to understand ancient funerary rites and culture of prehistoric society, as well as the presence of early man in Malaysia.
“We believe this skeleton to be a teenage girl based on the pelvic bone.
Mohammadin said the skeleton, which was found on Nov 2 in the Nenggiri Valley in Ulu Kelantan, was removed from Gua Chawan on Nov 10, and placed at a laboratory.
The Heritage Department will take 60 days to conduct conservation works at the site for record and restoration purposes.
Teeth and shell samples will be sent to the Beta Lab in the United States for chronometric dating.
“The Heritage Department will be collecting all the artefacts for historical reference and the public will be able to view them as soon as conservation works have been completed,” Mohammadin said.
Source: The Star Online [December 19, 2018]
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