Bewah Man yet to go home

Carbon copy: A replica of Bewah Man being displayed at Terengganu Archeology Exhibition at the state museum in Kuala Terengganu.

KUALA TERENGGANU: It has been almost a year but “Bewah Man”, the oldest known skeleton ever found in the country, has yet to balik kampung.

The remains, dating back 16,000 years, were to have been returned to its place of origin in Gua Bewah near Tasik Kenyir last year.

However, there have been security concerns over the cave following cases of trespassing by scavengers.

State Museum director Yusof Abdullah said the priceless remains were “being kept under lock and key” at the museum's special storage area.

“We had hoped to move it last year,” he said. “We believe the remains can be transferred to the cave once security measures have been improved.”

Yusof also confirmed that local researchers had yet to verify the gender of the re-mains, saying “there isn't enough evidence to indicate this”.

He said about 15 archaeologists had been conducting an extensive study over the find, but to no avail.

“However, we are still maintaining the name of Bewah Man,” he added.

Yusof said the researchers had constructed a special glass casing for the remains to preserve it.

“We are keeping the remains in an air-conditioned facility, where access is limited,” he said. “Only the replica is exhibited at the museum gallery.”

State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage committee chairman Datuk Rahin Said has urged all relevant parties to expedite security at the cave.

“Bewah Man is our national treasure, so it must be returned to the cave sooner rather than later.”

Bewah Man was the second prehistoric skeletal remains found in the area.

The first, about 2,500 years old, was discovered in 1976.