BY: Michelle Liew
Recently, Malaysia was taken by surprise with the discovery of fossils of human bones and skulls in Bukit Keteri, Perlis.
The fossils of human bones and skulls found were approximately 5,000 to 10,000 years old. Not only that, the Perlis State Heritage Department and the Perlis State Climbers Association also found paintings on the walls of proto-historical caves in Semadong Cave.
[FOTO] Jumpaan Tengkorak Prasejarah & Lukisan Purba Negeri Perlis Di Bukit Keteri & Gua Semadong, Perlis bersama YB Asmaiza Ahmad, Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri & En. Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof, Pesuruhjaya Warisan, Jabatan Warisan Negara.#japenperlis #prasejarah pic.twitter.com/VH56uubFjr
— Jabatan Penerangan Negeri Perlis (@JapenPerlis) October 14, 2021
The findings have proven that the state of Perlis has been a settlement area for prehistoric communities since thousands of years ago.
Through the exploration of the Perlis State Information Department, several paintings were found on the cave walls. Among them are paintings in the shape of animals such as cows, elephants, snakes, monkeys and humans.
According to sources, Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof, Commissioner of the National Heritage Department (JWN) said that the discovery was the latest historical discovery. This discovery will be helpful in drafting a historical chronology.
“We believe it has a Hindu-Buddhist influence estimated around the fifth to 10th centuries AD.”
“Based on previous studies conducted in the cave area in Bukit Chuping, Bukit Tunku Lembu. Bukit Ngulang, Bukit Kerengga and Bukit Changkul proved that the place was used as a settlement and burial site of Paleolithic and Neolithic communities based on the discovery of artifacts of various stone tools and earthenware.”
“We believe this area is not only inhabited by prehistoric societies, but also inhabited by proto -historical societies based on artifacts such as kalam semah (votive tablets) that were also found in the area,” he said.
He also hopes that we, as a society, have the need to preserve this heritage so that research can continue to be done in the future.
