Perak Man back home in Lenggong

LENGGONG: Perak Man, the country’s oldest prehistoric man uncovered 24 years ago, is finally home.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, a Lenggong boy himself, became the first visitor to view the 11,000-year-old skeleton during a ceremony yesterday to mark the homecoming of Perak Man at the Lenggong Archaeological Gallery.

“It is a historical day for all of us, especially Lenggong folks. This is actually the first time that the Perak Man is being exhibited back here where it was discovered.

“I think the Lenggong people are the happiest to be able to see the actual Perak Man,” Nazri said.

Perak Man was uncovered at Gua Gunung Runtuh, about 8km from the gallery, by the Heritage Com­missioner Prof Emeritus Datin Paduka Zuraina Majid and a team of other archaeologists in 1990.

Perak Man’s skeletal remains are considered the most complete and oldest ancient skeleton in the peninsula. It was taken on exhibition to Penang and Japan, and later put on display at the National Museum in 2010, while a replica was showcased at the Lenggong Archaeolo-gical Museum, now known as the Lenggong Archaeological Gallery.

After Lenggong Valley was recognised as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Site in July 2012, a decision was made to bring Perak Man back here.

On another matter, Nazri said the department had submitted the Lenggong Valley Conservation Management Plan to Unesco last month and added that the ministry would be looking at acquiring all 1,814ha of Cluster 1 and 2 of Lenggong Valley where archaeological sites are concentrated.