GUA MUSANG: A total of 71,289 heritage and prehistoric artefacts have been discovered and removed from the Nenggiri Valley, where a hydroelectric dam is being constructed.
National Heritage Department archaeology division director Zaharudin Abu said this includes 16 skeletons as well as stone tools, pottery fragments and other items.
He said that the 16 skeletons are currently at the Heritage Department for conservation and further research, while the rest are stored in a special Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) facility.
He said the discoveries were the result of salvage research and excavation work carried out on 13 limestone caves affected by the dam construction.
"The research and excavation work began in March 2022 and concluded in October 2023.
"Our most significant find was a complete human skeleton in Gua Keledung Kecil, estimated to be between 14,000 and 16,000 years old," he told reporters in Pos Tohoi here on Thursday (Aug 22).
Zaharudin said that TNB will also set up a mini gallery for public display of the artefacts discovered in Nenggiri.
"This is an opportunity for the community and the archaeological tourism sector in Kelantan.
"The Heritage Department will also request for Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to nominate the human skeletons from Gua Keledung Kecil to be gazetted under the National Heritage Act," he said adding that this would ensure its proper preservation.
"I also urge all residents in the Nenggiri area who find any artefacts or objects of significant heritage value to report it to the district office or the state government.
"The Heritage Department will discuss with the state government the gazetting of sites in Kelantan as the state is rich in heritage, archaeological sites and structures," he said, adding that under the Act, gazetting a site requires state government approval.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr Zuliskandar Ramli, the senior fellow of UKM's Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, said they had urgently conducted salvage work on prehistoric materials at the dam construction site.
"All prehistoric materials and artefacts discovered in the 13 limestone caves in Nenggirihave been completely removed," he said.
The RM5bil Nenggiri Hydroelectric Project is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and will create a main reservoir lake covering 53.84 sq km and a flow regulation pond of 0.97 sq km. – Bernama
