Archaeology

Until 1964, Sarawak Museum was the only museum in Borneo since its establishment in 1891. Due to the absence of professional crew in archaeological study at that time, the first excavation by the museum staff only took place in 1948. The findings were both rewarding and exciting. Ever since, extensive archaeological works have been carried out on more than 50 sites throughout Sarawak. The excavations disclosed the best-kept secret of Sarawak's past history and the rich and varied heritage of its indigenous people.

Numerous prehistoric artifacts had been discovered. The West Mouth in the Niah Great Cave is the most rewarding site that provides significant and highly important evidences to not only the history of Borneo but also to the history of mankind. At the depth of 96 inches, a skull of one of the oldest humans was excavated, with the surrounding charcoal dated by experts at about 40,000 years old! It is the earliest definite representative of Homo Sapiens found in the Southeast Asia.

Further inside the same cave mouth is a Neolithic burial site where over 166 burials had been recovered, associated with stone implements and pottery.

In a separate limestone outcrop nearby the Niah Great Cave, a 200 feet stretch in length wall paintings was discovered. The paintings were generally drawn in bold and thick strokes and depict an array of boats and spread-eagle dancing human figures. Also found in this Painted Cave were "death-ships", Chinese stoneware and many ancient glass beads. Carbon-14 dating on four "death-ships" gave between 0 and 780 A.D

Archaeological works in Sarawak continue to the recent years. Every dig and excavation brings them closer to the true history of the past. Another major site that has been explored and excavated is the Sarawak River Delta, which includes Santubong, Gedong and Bukit Sandong.

Santubong is in fact the largest archaeological site in Malaysia, in comparison with Lembah Bujang in the Peninsular Malaysia. Thousands of ceramic sherds were excavated in 1949 under the curatorship of Tom Harrison. Other than Chinese ceramics, about 40,000 tons of iron slag formed another salient discovery. It is believed that this area was once an important centre of traders and iron mining in the region between 11th Century A.D. to 13th Century A.D.

Another interesting discovery was made in late 1974, when seventy-nine stone tools in association with metal objects, ancient beads and local earthenware were uncovered on a remote site of Ulu Baleh, Kapit. It is the first open stone age site ever located in Sarawak and Borneo as well.