via Yahoo News, 08 December 2023: The Niah Caves in Sarawak, Malaysia, offer a spectacular glimpse into both natural beauty and ancient human history. Dating back at least 40,000 years, these caves hold archaeological significance with findings like the Deep Skull. Visitors can experience the awe-inspiring caverns adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, and ancient wall paintings dating back 1,200 years. The journey through lush rainforests to the caves is an adventure in itself, providing an immersive experience of Sarawak’s rich tribal culture and natural heritage..
The Mulu National Park, which is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)-listed tangible archaeological heritage site of humanity, is in the Upper Baram – Mulu District, while the Niah National Park is in the Miri Division.
In 2010 and 2021, the Sarawak government applied for Unesco listing of World Heritage Site for the Niah Cave complex, which is in the Gunung Supis limestone mountain range in the Miri Division, approximately 90km from Miri City.
It is a prehistoric site with human habitations dating some 40,000 years ago in the Palaeolithic era, evidenced by the discovery of the Deep Skull in the Hell Trench in the Niah Caves.
The Painted Cave, some 150 metres from the south entrance of the big cave has wall paintings dating back to 1,200 years ago.
Source: Niah Caves – Sarawak’s magnificent tangible heritage
