MIRI: Archaeological artefacts taken from Niah Caves and which are now overseas should be brought home as they are the heritage of Sarawak and Malaysia, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Archaeologists from as far as Nevada University in the United States of America had showed interest in Niah Caves as early as 1957 when 122 skeletons were taken away to be studied by Richard and Sheilagh Brooks.
Though the Brooks have prepared some reports, none have been published.
Professor Zuraina Majid last inspected them in 2004.
“As the Brooks are elderly and no longer able to conduct research I would like to propose that the artefacts, or some of them, be brought back to Sarawak,” said Taib at the launch of an international seminar on Bornean archaeology here Wednesday night.
The Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang had brought back Gua Cha (Kelantan) burials from Cambridge University in 2008.
“However, before the Niah burials could be taken back Sarawak Museum must build a special room with specially designed curation boxes to meet appropriate standards of storage and preservation,” said Taib.
The proposed place for this is at the left wing of Miri Petroleum Museum which could be designed and prepared with assistance of USM staff.
“The burials should be brought home so as to be easily accessible to researchers,” Taib said.
The estimated cost of the whole project is around RM1.5 million which includes initial investigation trips to Las Vegas, air freight and airfares and construction of a special curation room and facilities.
Taib also proposed the nomination of Niah Caves as Unesco World Heritage Site.
Continue reading at: Bring back Niah Caves artefacts from abroadArchaeologists from as far as Nevada University in the United States of America had showed interest in Niah Caves as early as 1957 when 122 skeletons were taken away to be studied by Richard and Sheilagh Brooks.
Though the Brooks have prepared some reports, none have been published.
Professor Zuraina Majid last inspected them in 2004.
“As the Brooks are elderly and no longer able to conduct research I would like to propose that the artefacts, or some of them, be brought back to Sarawak,” said Taib at the launch of an international seminar on Bornean archaeology here Wednesday night.
The Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang had brought back Gua Cha (Kelantan) burials from Cambridge University in 2008.
“However, before the Niah burials could be taken back Sarawak Museum must build a special room with specially designed curation boxes to meet appropriate standards of storage and preservation,” said Taib.
The proposed place for this is at the left wing of Miri Petroleum Museum which could be designed and prepared with assistance of USM staff.
“The burials should be brought home so as to be easily accessible to researchers,” Taib said.
The estimated cost of the whole project is around RM1.5 million which includes initial investigation trips to Las Vegas, air freight and airfares and construction of a special curation room and facilities.
Taib also proposed the nomination of Niah Caves as Unesco World Heritage Site.
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