Guar Kepah archaeological site to be made UNESCO heritage site - Lim

The Penang state government will apply to make the Guar Kepah Archaeological Site a world heritage site under the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) under the World Archaeology Site category.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this was an effort to preserve and conserve the excavation site of what is believed to be the 5,000-to-6,000 year-old human remains of a woman now known as the "Penang Woman".

"The state government together with the Global Archaeological Research Centre (PPAG) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the Seberang Perai Municipal Council, the Penang Chief Minister Incorporated and the National Heritage Department will ensure all documentation are recorded according to UNESCO requirements.

"We will submit all information and documents to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for further action, which is to apply to the Federal Government to get UNESCO recognition," he told reporters after visiting the Guar Kepah Archaeological Site here today.

The remains were discovered on April 17 when the area was being dug up to lay the foundations for the Guar Kepah archaeological gallery, resulting in all digging being halted immediately to allow for excavation works.GE

The discovery of the remains proves the existence of Neolithic prehistoric man in Peninsular Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA