MALACCA: The state authorities want to know what has happened to the four ancient human skeletons sent to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for analysis following their discovery next to the Malacca River a year ago.
State Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Seet Har Cheow said the bones and glass beads were among items discovered during archaeological excavations by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry in May last year.
“The matter was previously raised in the State Legislative Assembly and it was said that the bones had been sent to USM for analysis. However, we have yet to get any feedback,” he said at the archaeological site in Jalan Kota here yesterday.
Seet said that he would be requesting the relevant bodies concerned to provide a report.
The ministry’s archaeological officer Mohamad Mahfuz said that the arrangement of bones and several ancient glass beads found next to them indicated a ceremonial burial site.
However, he was unable to estimate the age of the bones, saying that they could be between 600 and 1,400 years old.
Meanwhile, Seet said that the reconstruction of part of the 16th century Dutch Middleburg bastion and the 15th century A’Famosa Fort discovered in late November 2006 is scheduled for completion in July.
He said the ministry had allocated RM12.8mil for archaeological and restoration work including acquisition of the former Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank for use as a heritage centre.
The Star highlighted the discovery of the ruins, which resulted in a stop-work order and relocation of the RM23mil Taming Sari viewing tower two years ago. - TheStar
Konsep "Universiti Di Dalam Taman" yang diadunkan oleh USM ini menunjukkan hubungan akrab di antara peranan dan fungsinya sebagai institusi pengajian tinggi dalam persekitaran taman yang segar. Unsur flora, fauna, air dan ciptaan-ciptaan lain merupakan hubungan yang dinamik dalam penerokaan kehidupan selanjutnya. Konsep ini mengajak kita untuk mengekalkan kehijauan kampus sebagai sebahagian daripada usaha membangunkan dunia intelek. Kita perlu semarakkan semangat dan amalan dalam menjaga persekitaran kampus, malah terus menyayangi dan menghargai alam semula jadi dan ekologi yang dianugerahkan Tuhan di hati dan pemikiran pada setiap warga kampus.
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