Fossil find: Shaharuddin (third from left) and Zulkifli (centre) looking at the prehistoric skeletal remains from Guar Kepah after the signing of a MOU in Komtar, George Town, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Skeletal remains dating back about 5,700 years from one of Penang’s earliest prehistoric communities are now back after more than eight decades overseas.
The collection from the Guar Kepah archaeological site in Penaga, comprising parts of skulls, teeth, mandibles and other skeletal remains from 41 individuals, will be conserved at the Guar Kepah Archaeological Gallery, which is set to open soon.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said the skeletal remains had been repatriated from a collection centre in the Netherlands and brought back to Malaysia on Aug 30 last year, following close cooperation involving the ministry, the National Heritage Department, the Higher Education Ministry and the Dutch authorities.
He said the handover of the Guar Kepah skeletal collection to the Penang government marked a significant step in preserving one of the country’s most important prehistoric heritage sites.
Shaharuddin was speaking at a press conference after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Komtar yesterday.
He added that the 1ha Guar Kepah site had been studied since about 1860, beginning with research by British scholar George Windsor Earl, followed by more recent studies conducted by the Penang government through Chief Minister Incorporated and Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Global Archaeological Research Centre.
These efforts led to the discovery of a 5,710-year-old human skeleton known as the “Penang Woman” in April 2017.
With the gallery now completed and equipped with conservation and storage facilities, Shaharuddin said the collection would benefit the local community, researchers and tourism sector.
The MOU was signed between heritage commissioner Muhamad Muda Bahadin and deputy heritage commissioner Ruzairy Arbi and Penang state secretary Datuk Seri Zulkifli Long and Penang deputy state secretary Mohamed Abdul Rahman.
Zulkifli said the return of the skeletal remains was a historic moment for Penang and Malaysia.
He said the remains were excavated in 1934 and taken out of the country during the colonial period.
At the time, Malaysia did not have proper facilities to preserve the remains against moisture, light and microbes.
With their placement at the Guar Kepah Archaeological Gallery, Zulkifli said he was confident the national heritage would be properly conserved and protected.
Dr N. Suresh, a senior lecturer from USM Global Archaeological Research Centre, said research on the skeletal collection was ongoing.
He said among the interesting prehistoric discoveries from the remains were teeth tinged with red, which might indicate the chewing of betel nut by the community at that time.
Unlike the Penang Woman, whose skeletal remains were relatively complete, he said the collection consisted mainly of different skeletal parts from different individuals.
The Guar Kepah site, located in North Seberang Perai, is a prehistoric shell midden that provides insight into early coastal communities along the northern Straits of Malacca.
The gallery is expected to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Jan 24.
