| Abstract: |
This paper presents an overview of prehistoric sites and research carried out in Semporna from 2002-2007 in South-eastern Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia. Archaeological research in this region of island Southeast Asia has discovered several interesting prehistoric sites and yielded findings related to the archaeology of Southeast Asia, Melanesia and south China. Archaeological excavations conducted at some of the sites such as Melanta Tutup and Bukit Kamiri as well as new areas in Bukit Tengkorak have extended the presence of ancient human habitation in the Semporna region back as early as the late Palaeolithic period to the Neolithic, Metal and early historical periods. Radiocarbon dating placed some of these sites to date more than 10,000 BCE to 1280 CE. Amongst the findings were several burial sites and log coffins from the Neolithic, Metal and early historical periods, radiocarbon dated between 1620 BCE and 1280 CE as well as considerable amount of archaeological artefacts such as earthenware pottery, microliths, flake tools, stone adzes, animal and fish bones, beads, metal tools, shell and stone ornaments. <br> <br> The archaeological research carried out in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia as aimed at searching for new sites and data on the prehistory of Semporna in Southeast Asia. The archaeological fieldwork was conducted by a research team, headed by the author from the Centre for Archaeological Research Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, with technical help from staff of the Sabah Museum Department and the Mineral and Geoscience Department of Malaysia in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah as well as local villagers from Semporna. Three seasons of reconnaissance surveys were done in 2002, 2003 and 2007 in order to locate prehistoric sites in the Semporna region. The surveys were done to search for signs of prehistoric human habitation, camp or burial site. The survey discovered clues to prehistoric human presence in the form of human teeth, stone tools, pottery sherds, and food remains at several new sites. These new sites include Melanta Tutup, Bukit Kamiri, Bodgaya, Bukit Sakong, Kampung Pokas, and new areas in Bukit Tengkorak (see map). At Bodgaya, two log coffins, one belonging to an adult and the other a child, were discovered and radiocarbon dated between 1050 and 1280 CE. Surface finds of potsherds and flake tools were discovered at Kampung Pokas and Bukit Sakong. Three of the more potential sites Melanta Tutup and Bukit Kamiri as well as new areas in Bukit Tengkorak were excavated. The excavations have uncovered new evidence of ancient human habitation in the Semporna region, covering the late Palaeolithic period to the Neolithic, Metal and early historical periods. Radiocarbon dating analyses carried out at some of these sites placed them to range from about 10,730 BCE to 1280 CE. The following discusses in more detail the surveys, excavations and findings at these three sites in Semporna, Sabah.
|
