KUALA KRAI, Nov 8 (Bernama) — Pieces of snail shells and pottery fragments believed to be between 1,000 and 5,000 years old were found in Gua Keris, Dabong, here, this morning.

National Geopark Committee chairman, Prof Datuk Dr Mokhtar Saidin said the artefacts were found by a team from the committee while surveying the Stong Geopark, which includes three caves in Dabong, namely Gua Kerus, Gua Pagar, and Gua Ikan.

“In the cave, shells of snails which were a food item as well as a burial object of prehistoric people were found, while the pottery fragments found have the characteristic of the Neolithic period, believed to be between 1,000 and 5,000 years old.

“We found all these materials on the ground surface. Therefore, further scientific archaeological investigations must be carried out and we may find more artefacts from prehistoric times that have not yet been disturbed,” he said at a press conference today,

Also present was Dabong District Council president Mohd Hariff Ghazali.

Mokhtar said that several samples of the artefacts will be handed over to the Dabong District Council for further action.

“For further examination,  the district council can submit a request to the National Heritage Department to conduct a study at the site in question,” he said.

“If we get permission to conduct research, this material will be sent to laboratories abroad such as the United States and South Korea,” said Dr Mokhtar who believes Gua Keris could have been inhabited by prehistoric people.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency