Archeology

The strategic location of Peninsular Malaysia which is surrounded by the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca makes it an abundant source ofhistorical land sites dating from the pre-historic to the historic age (35,000 years B.C. to the twentieth century.

These historical land sites are priceless national heritage from the country’s historical perpective. Thus, archaeological research efforts have been planned and implemented comprehensively by archaeologists from the Department with additional help from higher learning institutes and private/government agencies from various disciplines of knowledge.

Since 1845, archaeological discoveries have identified historical land sites that revealed the evolution of human civilization not only in Peninsular Malaysia, but also Southern Asia. The finding of pre-historic land in Lenggong Valley brought into view the existence of a Paleolithic Age stone paraphernalia industry in Kota Tampan and Bukit Bunuh and the "Perak Man’ in Gunung Runtuh Cave, Perak. A pre-historic or Malay/Budhist-era Malay civilization in Lembah Bujang, Kedah was aslo found, dating back to the fifth through fourteenth century replete with temple ruins and sunken port cities.

Since 1845, archaeological discoveries have identified historical land sites that revealed the evolution of human civilization not only in Peninsular Malaysia, but also Southern Asia. The finding of pre-historic land in Lenggong Valley brought into view the existence of a Paleolithic Age stone paraphernalia industry in Kota Tampan and Bukit Bunuh and the "Perak Man’ in Gunung Runtuh Cave, Perak. A pre-historic or Malay/Budhist-era Malay civilization in Lembah Bujang, Kedah was aslo found, dating back to the fifth through fourteenth century replete with temple ruins and sunken port cities.

More historical gems feature castle ruins and forts of the Malay and Muslim kingdom before and after the Malacca Malay Sultanage period. The waters around Malay Peninsular were used as routes of trades and conquests, leaving in their wake thousands of sunken ships, among them the "Flor de la Mar" (Flower of the Sea), "Risdam", "Diana", "Royal Nanhai" and "Nassau".

Archaeological research projects are planeed and executed from archaeologists from the Department of Museums and Antiquities, Higher Learning Institutes and State and Private Museums. Among the projects launched from 1991 to 2000 are :

1. Lembah Lenggong, Perak Archaeological Research.
2. Lembah Nenggiri, Kelantan Archaeological Research.
3. Lembah Bujang, Kedah Archaeological Research.
4. Koridor Sungai Johor, Johor Archaeological Research.

5. Lembah Sungai Pahang, Pahang Archaeological Research.