Archeologists have found ancient human skeletal remains and bone fragments in Bukit Keteri and Gua Semadong in Perlis.

In addition, the joint exploration by the Department of National Heritage (JWN) and the Perlis state government has also unearthed drawings with Hindu and Buddhist influences dating back 5,000 to 10,000 years, proving that the site was a settlement in prehistoric times.

JWN commissioner Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof said the latest findings is crucial to help them charter the chronology of history better.

"From the drawings, we can see motives of animals like bull, elephant, ape, and human, which are believed to contain Hindu-Buddha influences dating back between the fifth and 10th centuries.

"Based on the findings, we believed that this site was not only a settlement of prehistoric humans, but was also inhabited by protohistoric humans, based on the votive tablets found there," Berita Harian quoted Azmi telling reporters after an exploration at the two sites recently.

He said that everyone would play their part in maintaining the findings, to facilitate further studies.

"What matters now is gazetting the area as a heritage site so that it would not be encroached upon and destroyed by irresponsible quarters."


Source: Berita Harian
Photo source: Berita Harian, Coconuts