THE IMPORTANCE OF GUAR KEPAH SKELETON

RESOURCE: SUNGAI BATU 788 BC: THE GREAT KINGDOM OF KEDAH TUA

2 points that caught my attention from Dr Mokhtar presentation yesterday at MATIC are, first how he want to prove that the one meter layer of sea shell found at paddy field was a man made, not natural deposition, since the actual mound were no longer exist. Secondly, Prof Mokhtar implies that Guar Kepah community responsible in supplying foods to the ancient sailors and ships that travel as far from Mesopotamia to China, where the sunken ship dated 5000 years in South China Sea , nearby Malay Peninsula was the evidence.

Guar is midden. Kepah is clam.

Cut the story short, Prof Mokhtar went to Senegal to attend the workshop about shell midden and he found out the same tradition are still in practice in Senegal, which is the tradition of making shell midden, land reclaiming using sea shell and buried the dead in shell midden !

In Senegal, they still collect the clam and cockle peel it off and dried the flesh, as it is part of their economy. Probably the same thing done by Guar Kepah community !.

If Guar Kepah done that, who was their trading partner. This will lead us to the second point where the foreign vessel from West Asia civilisation (Mesopotamia) travel as far as China to trade and obtained the resources from China such as silk. (The Chinese were unlikely involved in seafaring, not until 10th century AD, according to Prof. Derek Heng.)

Malay Peninsula is a mid point between China and the West and the most suitable point to get the provision and supply. As Guar Kepah is a maritime community, they were able to provide the marine supplies such as the fish fresh clams, cockles or even the dried one. Otherwise, it seems illogical the huge amount of the shell was just for their own consumption. Since the excavation also found land animal bones, it could be also an alternative supplies.

Another important aspects is the Spice Route that was established 5000 years ago according scholarly article, and Nusantara region was the heart of spice source such as clove, cardamon etc.

According to Prof Mokhtar, the 41 skeleton that currently in Leiden, were being a subject of research and those researchers consistently categorised the skeleton as Melanosoid and some are Monggoloid. Among others was an Indonesian, Teuku Jacob, who studied in Netherland and published his paper in 1960, that also discussed the Guar Kepah skeleton.

By bringing the skeleton back to us, it will open up the new chapter in archaeological and anthropological studies. Skeleton, human remains and its context could answer lot of questions pertaining to the people of particular area or region such a living culture, diet, migration, age, cause of death, living condition, climate etc.

By January next year, Guar Kepah Gallery will ready to receive and display all the 41 skeleton from Leiden and the 42nd skeleton that found by Prof Mokhtar, that is known as Penang Woman.

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4 June 2023 > 16 Zulkaedah 1444H: 8.55 pm