The 14,000-year-old human skeleton discovered by archaeologists in Gua Keledung Kecil in the Nenggiri Valley is likely that of a female based on the presence of hematite in the grave. Hematite, a mineral with reddish powder, was used as a face powder during the pre-Neolithic age. Hematite was also used by ancient cavemen as a tool to draw on cave walls and was buried with the dead. The excavation of the site is part of the RM5 billion Nenggiri hydroelectric dam project and aims to salvage ancient caves in the valley before they are submerged. A total of 14 caves, including Gua Keledung, are being excavated. The skeletal remains were found with hematite and two pieces of clear crystals in the eye areas, which may have been part of burial rituals. The skeleton was difficult to remove due to moist soil and poor visibility in the cave. The team successfully separated the upper and lower limb bones from the torso and used a “dry cleaning” technique to remove dirt from the fragile bones. The skeleton was then transported to UKM’s medical faculty in Kuala Lumpur for further studies. The team will clean the bones thoroughly and use micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning to analyze the internal structure. The findings will be used to create a database on the biological characteristics of prehistoric human bones and provide insights into pre-Neolithic life. Once the research is completed, the skeleton will be handed over to the National Heritage Department for conservation.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
