New Straits Times 28 Jun 13;
KUCHING: Sarawak's famous prehistoric site, Niah Cave, and its surrounding areas, are under threat.
This is because limestone quarry construction works are being carried out in the south of its main attraction, Niah Great Cave.
The Great Cave is located in a large limestone block, about 1km long and about half-a-km wide, that is detached from the main Mount Subis complex by a valley, which is 150m to 200m wide.
Because of its rich historical significance, the National Park was created to protect the Great Cave.
However, zoologist Dr Christopher M. Stimpson said while the establishment of the park was commendable, it was a small area in the vast jungle.
"The imestone quarry will encroach into the area and make the park smaller than before," said Stimpson, who is with McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge.
Stimpson did his doctorate on Niah Great Cave from 2006 to 2010, and is now back for further research.
He is working with archaeologists from Sarawak Museum.
Stimpson urged the local government to stop the further destruction of the place.
"The Niah Great Cave is biologically, archeologically and historically rich. It is important not only to the country but to the world."
The cave's historical significance rose with the discovery of human remains, dating back 40,000 years, making it the oldest recorded human settlement in East Malaysia. It also houses rock paintings dating back 1,200 years.
Stimpson, who is conducting an avian zoo archaeology seminar on Niah avian remains, said they discovered that the Niah Great Cave was home to a huge number of birds.
He added that his team had found 164 bones of non-cave birds of which the hawk species was dominant.
The others comprised of owls and eagles.
Five hundred bones of cave birds were also found, with the majority being three swiftlets species -- white belly,black nest and mossy nest swiftlets.
Stimpson's studies also show that the birds were not part of the prehistoric settlers' food chain. Their skeletal remains indicated no burn or cut marks.
