There are two theories about the origin of modern human; a) they came from one place - Africa and b) pre-modern humans migrated from Africa to become modern human in other parts of the world.
Most evidence and archeological finds support the first theory as fossils of modern-like humans are found in Africa, in addition, stone tools and other artifacts support African origin and DNA studies suggest a founding population in Africa. To most this is known as the Out of Africa (OOA) theory.
However, could a recent archeological find in Malaysia support an idea that modern humans could have come from the South East Asian region?
One exhibit at the Knowledge Convention 2010, which is going on at the International Convention Centre has drawn great interest from curious schoolchildren and interested adults alike. It prominently features the fossilized remains of a man believed to be over a million years old and of Malay ethnic origin, and if so proved to be true, could rewrite history as we know it.
Based on archelogical research, the evidence of human life as early as 1.83 million years ago was found at the foot of Bukit Bunuh in Perak, Malaysia. Artifacts such as hand axes, one of which was on display in the exhibition, and cutting tools were found at the site covered in suevit (enamel like material from meteorite impact). The impact from the meteorite caused high temperatures and pressures which then liquefied into suevit, and left a crater approximately three kilometers deep and may have wiped out all civilisation at that time in the area.
It is believed that early man may have chosen the area around Bukit Bunuh as it was close to water and food sources, and as there was an abundance of material to make tools from in the area.
The star of the show is with no doubt, the "Perak Man". School children gather around in sheer fascination, listening to their teacher as she reads aloud the identification card labeled on the exhibit.
Perak Man, found in 1991, is the only complete human skeleton which has been found in Malaysia. The cave which was his final resting place is called Gua Gunung Runtuh and is situated in Bukit Kepala Gajah, or Elephant's Head Hill, in the Lenggong Valley in Ulu Perak.
The Perak Man skeleton has been dated at between 10,000 and 11,000 years old, which makes him a Stone Age man, from the Palaeolithic period. The skeleton was found by Datuk Prof Zuraini Majid and her team from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
"The implication of this on written history is huge. Already, the Malaysian government has accepted this and has started making changes in the history books little by little so that Malaysia will accept this as part of our history," said Dr. Zolkurnian Hassan, Senior Curator of Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia, in an exclusive interview with The Brunei Times.
"One recognition we would like is to get that of international conference. We have already revealed the find to many experts from the UK, US, South East Asia and around Asia. We would also like to prove it through Absolute Dating, scientific testing and with help from experts in the field to prove that early civilization came from the peninsula," explained Dr Hassan, when asked about how they would achieve recognition for the "Out of Asia" theory.
It's a mind boggling thought that through one discovery, that written history could be changed.
source: The Brunei Times
Most evidence and archeological finds support the first theory as fossils of modern-like humans are found in Africa, in addition, stone tools and other artifacts support African origin and DNA studies suggest a founding population in Africa. To most this is known as the Out of Africa (OOA) theory.
However, could a recent archeological find in Malaysia support an idea that modern humans could have come from the South East Asian region?
One exhibit at the Knowledge Convention 2010, which is going on at the International Convention Centre has drawn great interest from curious schoolchildren and interested adults alike. It prominently features the fossilized remains of a man believed to be over a million years old and of Malay ethnic origin, and if so proved to be true, could rewrite history as we know it.
Based on archelogical research, the evidence of human life as early as 1.83 million years ago was found at the foot of Bukit Bunuh in Perak, Malaysia. Artifacts such as hand axes, one of which was on display in the exhibition, and cutting tools were found at the site covered in suevit (enamel like material from meteorite impact). The impact from the meteorite caused high temperatures and pressures which then liquefied into suevit, and left a crater approximately three kilometers deep and may have wiped out all civilisation at that time in the area.
It is believed that early man may have chosen the area around Bukit Bunuh as it was close to water and food sources, and as there was an abundance of material to make tools from in the area.
The star of the show is with no doubt, the "Perak Man". School children gather around in sheer fascination, listening to their teacher as she reads aloud the identification card labeled on the exhibit.
Perak Man, found in 1991, is the only complete human skeleton which has been found in Malaysia. The cave which was his final resting place is called Gua Gunung Runtuh and is situated in Bukit Kepala Gajah, or Elephant's Head Hill, in the Lenggong Valley in Ulu Perak.
The Perak Man skeleton has been dated at between 10,000 and 11,000 years old, which makes him a Stone Age man, from the Palaeolithic period. The skeleton was found by Datuk Prof Zuraini Majid and her team from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
"The implication of this on written history is huge. Already, the Malaysian government has accepted this and has started making changes in the history books little by little so that Malaysia will accept this as part of our history," said Dr. Zolkurnian Hassan, Senior Curator of Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia, in an exclusive interview with The Brunei Times.
"One recognition we would like is to get that of international conference. We have already revealed the find to many experts from the UK, US, South East Asia and around Asia. We would also like to prove it through Absolute Dating, scientific testing and with help from experts in the field to prove that early civilization came from the peninsula," explained Dr Hassan, when asked about how they would achieve recognition for the "Out of Asia" theory.
It's a mind boggling thought that through one discovery, that written history could be changed.
source: The Brunei Times
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