Gua Cha in the light of recent research

Abstract

Gua Cha rock shelter has been examined archaeologically on 3 separate occasions. In 1935 H.D. Noone carried out a 10 day trial excavation, recording the main features of the succession prehistoric burials some with pottery and an earlier level containing stone tools later recognised as Hoabinhian. In 1954 M.W.F. Tweedie and G. de G. Sieveking carried out a 6 week systematic excavation, and in 1979 Adi Haji Taha carried out a short supplementary excavation, collecting samples for scientific examina- tion and confirming stratigraphical details. (Bellwood and Adi Haji Taha 1981). Excavation reports for the first two investigations have been published and a report on the 1979 excavation has been prepared. (Noone 1939; Sieveking 1954; Adi Haji Taha 1981) and scientific reports on the human remains of the two later excavation have since been published or circulated (Trevor and Brothwell 1962; Kennedy nd; Bulbeck 1981). Since the 1954 excavation report, further publications have appeared describing the content and relationships of the two main cultures represented at the Gua Cha shelter, the Hoabinhian Culture and the late Neolithic Culture (later defined as the Ban Kao Culture). Reports have appeared on Malaysian Hoabinhian sites, and on prehistoric pottery in Malaysia (Mathews 1961; Peacock 1959; Sieveking 1962).