SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

Earthenware finds from Bukit Tengkorak, in the East Malaysia state of Sabah, are to be sent to the US for testing to ascertain their age and potential for future research. Unfortunately, the report doesn’t specify exactly what kind of tests are to be done on the site.

Earthenware Found In Bukit Tengkorak Sent For Scientific Tests
Bernama, 08 September 2008

Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said today that samples of earthenware and other items found in Bukit Tengkorak, near here, which are believed to be more than 500 years old, have been sent to the United States of America for scientific tests.

He said if the tests found that they were of high historical value, an indepth study would be carried out to excavate the remaining historical artifacts at the site.

Seems like a slow week in the archaeology world of Southeast Asia, so here’s some pictures of the archaeological material I’m working on at the centre: skeletal remains from a site in Sarawak.

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We’ve got a good mix of stories from the web this week, from the old name of Thailand (Thailand), Cambodia (ceramics and temples) and Malaysia (dying traditions).

photo credit: joejiang.sg

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A 41-member panel made up of heritage and conservation experts has been set up and will meet later this week to discuss the managment of Malaysia’s World Heritage Site, George Town.

photo credit: matrianklw

Heritage advisory panel set up for George Town
The Star, 09 August 2008

Penang forms committee to assist in heritage management plan
Bernama, via NST, 09 August 2008

Penang seeks soft loan for conservation
The Star 09 August 2008
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While I’m nost supposed to blog about about my ongoing research, I suppose a brief overview wouldn’t hurt. Here’ what I’ll be researching for the next couple of years – the rock art site of Gua Tambun in Perak. Earlier this week, I visited the site with my supervisor and some colleagues at the centre to reconnoitre the site and plan the logistics for fieldwork later this year. It was a chance to get some updated photos of the site and the paintings.

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The Sarawak Museum and Universiti Sains Malaysia recently announced their discovery of eight 3,000-year-old burials located near Miri in Sarawak.

Ancient Burial Site Discovered In Batu Niah
Bernama, 01 August 2008

Ancient burial site discovered in East Malaysia
Malaysia Sun, 04 August 2008
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Malaysians and Singaporeans would be familiar about how a Sumatran prince named Parameswara founded the Malacca Sultanate, but was there a settlement already existing before the prince’s visit? The state of Malacca is hoping to fund researchers interested in uncovering the history of Malacca before it was founded as the Sultanate of Malacca in the 14th century.

Malacca prior to Parameswara
The Star, 02 August 2008
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