Documentation and Analysis of the Papan Turai Gawai Batu 517.


 

THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL
VOL 88 NO. 109 DECEMBER 2024

 
 
Title : 
Documentation and Analysis of the Papan Turai Gawai Batu 517.

Author : 
Aldrin John Hew

Abstract:
The Papan Turai Gawai Batu 517, collected by Tom Harrisson in 1963, reveal its role as a pivotal artefact illuminating Iban proto-writing traditions intertwined with ancient rites, an intersection of cultural practices and agricultural rituals of Borneo’s pagan heritage. This investigation employs dual analytical frameworks: a pictorial analysis alongside a composition analysis of the artefact itself. Findings indicate that this artefact encapsulates the identity and resilience of the Iban community, affirming its status as an essential piece of documentary heritage vital to Sarawak’s historical evolution. The study emphasizes the urgent need for cultural preservation, advocating for the appreciation of these crucial traditions within a rapidly shifting sociocultural landscape.

DOI:
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How to cite:
Aldrin John Hew. (2024). Documentation and Analysis of the Papan Turai Gawai Batu 517. The Sarawak Museum Journal, 88 (109): 1-36

References
  1. Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 121 (1965), no: 1, Leiden, 1-57. Dove, M.R. (1993) Smallholder Rubber and Swidden Agriculture in Borneo: A Sustainable Adaptation to the Ecology and Economy of the Tropical Forest. Economic Botany, 47, 136-147.
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  3. King, V. T. (1993). The Peoples of Borneo. Blackwell. Richards, A. (1963).The Sea Dyaks and Other Races of Sarawak: Contributions to the Sarawak Gazette between 1888 and 1930. Kuching: Borneo Literature Bureau.
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