THE Guar Kepah Archaeological Gallery in Kepala Batas, Penang, is readied to open up quickly, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arranged to supervise the event.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow claimed building on the gallery started in 2022, with both the outside and indoor jobs currently finished.
“On behalf of the Penang government, I would like to thank the Federal Government for the RM10mil allocation,” Chow claimed.
“The project is important for the conservation and preservation of our artefacts.
“The radiocarbon dating done on the historical items here showed that they are over 5,000 years old.
“We have to preserve them for future generations,” he claimed as reported in Buletin Mutiara.
Also existing were Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) basic supervisor Datin Bharathi Suppiah, Chief Minister’s unique collaborating police officer Lay Hock Peng, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) president Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Ooi Yong Wooi.
Once the gallery is formally opened up, Chow claimed the state federal government and NCIA would certainly think about establishing a route of historical sites, linking essential locations in the north area.
“This gallery will be part of an archaeological trail that will start from Gua Kelam in Perlis to Sungai Batu and Lembah Bujang in Kedah, and then to Lenggong Valley in Perak.
“This has the potential to further boost tourism in Penang, especially among foreigners who are interested in exploring archaeological sites,” he claimed.
Bharathi revealed that initiatives were underway to repatriate 41 human skeletal artefacts from the Netherlands.
“The skeletons, excavated by the British archaeologists between 1851 and 1934, are at the National Natural History Museum in Leiden,” she claimed.
The Penang federal government, along with the National Heritage Department, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and Foreign Ministry are collaborating on the repatriation.
Once repatriated, moisture examinations will certainly be performed to establish whether the skeletal systems, dug deep into from 3 websites in Guar Kepar, can be securely shown in the gallery, or if reproductions ought to be made use of rather.
This likewise puts on the ‘Penang Woman’ skeletal systems.
“We are being meticulous about this, as it is essential to preserve and conserve these artefacts properly,” Bharathi claimed.
The gallery is a double-storey framework improved almost one hectare.
The task, applied by CMI in cooperation with NCIA, includes an interactive exhibit room that enables site visitors to imagine very early human negotiations in the location.
The gallery consists of an excavation website where the ‘Penang Woman’ skeletal system was found, together with display screens of covering middens.
A study centre, research laboratory and storage room for artefacts have actually likewise been integrated right into the center.
Visitors will certainly have accessibility to numerous services such as a surau, coffee shop and keepsake booths.
