Historical Exploration of Niah Cave: Don’t Skip the Niah Archaeological Museum (7)

The writer, in the lobby of the Niah Archaeological Museum in Batu Niah, Miri, Sarawak: satisfying curiosity and verifying information.

BORNEOTRAVEL - BATU NIAH, MIRI: For those who enjoy both historical tourism and ecotourism, the Niah Caves in Miri, Sarawak is an essential destination! 

During my visit on August 9, 2024, I observed a significant number of tourists, primarily Caucasians, flocking to this unparalleled attraction in Borneo. They ranged from children and teenagers to adults. 

All seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the ambiance of Niah Caves, which, in addition to its historical significance, is surrounded by the unmatched tropical rainforest of Borneo.

 Without a doubt, Niah Caves offers a rare combination of historical and natural tourism—an exceptionally unique experience worldwide!

 Observing the excavation sites and artifacts at Niah Caves is not complete

For tourists with a high level of curiosity, like myself, simply observing the excavation sites and artifacts at Niah Caves is not complete without a visit to the Sarawak Museum in Niah. This additional step is crucial not only for supplementing data and knowledge but also for verification purposes. As a researcher, this thorough approach is essential!

A map that guides tourists on where to go first among the unique historical sites and rainforests of Borneo. This map belongs to the management of the Niah Archaeological Museum.

This is not because I’m trying to appear “know-it-all,” but because it is the duty of a writer. To narrate a subject as objectively as possible, supported by data, information, and arguments that can be substantiated, is essential.

The Niah Archaeological Museum is a must-visit, where you should thoroughly absorb all the data and information it offers. This approach facilitates a "fusion of horizons" between the past and the present, and between the known and the unknown, as outlined in hermeneutic studies.

Many tourists pass by this museum, even though it’s located just across the Niah River. It’s accessible via a “footpath”—a slippery trail about 3 kilometers long leading to the Gua Dagang site.

Stone tool discoveries and their implications for paleolithic studies

In a study conducted by Tom Harrisson, curator of the Sarawak Museum from 1947 to 1966, detailed in the book Early Paleolithic in South and East Asia (edited by Fumiko Ikawa-Smith, De Gruyter Mouton, 1978), stone tools from Borneo and the surrounding islands, such as Sematan in Sarawak, are a major focus. For instance, a cutting tool measuring 130 x 100 millimeters made of solid quartz was discovered in the Bauxite Deposit of Sematan in 1958. 

This artifact is now housed at the Sarawak Museum, with a replica at the British Museum (catalog number 5456b). This tool exhibits characteristics of early "handaxes" with distinct flaking techniques compared to those found at other sites, as well as a "beaked" effect similar to cutting tools found at Niah. 

The shape and crafting technique of this tool provide early indications of Paleolithic technology in the region, yet also raise questions about its classification in the context of prehistoric human activities in Borneo.

A display at the Niah Archaeological Museum shows the excavation process in progress in 1958. Most of the field assistants were experienced excavators who had been trained earlier at Santubong.

Borneo and its surrounding islands exhibit a continuity in stone tool forms from the Early Paleolithic through to the Neolithic, without the significant changes seen on the Asian mainland. 

Tools found in Niah and Martapura, while categorized as Early Paleolithic, share similarities with more modern tools from Tabon, Palawan, and even distant New Guinea and New Britain. Further research is needed to understand how these tool forms persisted over thousands of years and how this relates to the prehistoric human adaptation in the region.

Discoveries and research on the Niah Cave People

The discovery of the Niah Cave people in the Niah Caves, Sarawak, represents a significant milestone in Paleolithic studies in Southeast Asia. 

Scientific research at this site has utilized carbon dating to determine the age of artifacts and fossils. Accurate carbon dating places the Niah Cave people around 40,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest prehistoric sites in the region. This finding is not merely a claim but the result of scientifically validated methods.

Research at the Niah Caves involved sampling sediment layers containing fossils and artifacts. Carbon-14 dating of human bones and cultural objects from the same layers supports this age range. 

Additionally, stratigraphic analysis and the relationships between different sediment layers bolster the accuracy of this dating. These findings confirm that the Niah Cave people inhabited the area around 40,000 years ago, providing strong evidence of prehistoric human presence in Borneo.

Beyond human fossils, the site has revealed various stone tools and artifacts that offer insights into the technology and daily life of the time. 

The stone tools discovered, such as quartzite scrapers and flakes, reflect advancements in tool-making techniques and usage, possibly influenced by or influencing similar technologies at other Southeast Asian sites. Comparisons with tools from Baksoko in Java reveal similarities in technique and use, enhancing our understanding of prehistoric human mobility and interaction in the region.

Harrisson's research and the findings from the Niah Caves highlight several challenges in Paleolithic studies in Borneo and the surrounding islands. 

Archaeological data from before approximately 40,000 B.P. remain sparse, and many stone tools categorized as Early Paleolithic may actually date to later periods. This uncertainty is compounded by rapid environmental changes and the discovery of displaced fossils, such as tektites affected by water erosion, which complicate precise dating.

The continuity of stone tool forms into the Neolithic period suggests that technological traditions could persist for long periods, making typological identification and chronological sequencing complex.

Further research in Kalimantan and other parts of Borneo is necessary to address these limitations and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the region's human history.

 Continued exploration and in-depth research hold the promise of new discoveries that will enrich our knowledge of prehistoric civilizations in Southeast Asia.

-- Masri Sareb Putra, M.A.