NIAH CAVE, 1947 - 1964
25
Sheila Brooks, Dr. Richard Shutler (who has already made one visit) and their associates in the U.S.A.
The work continues actively with increasing emphasis on publication, generously aided by The Asia Foundation and the Otago Museum in New Zealand, as well as those already listed. In conclusion, I stress that from start to finish this has been and is a Sarawak Government-based study. The main costs and all the conceptions have been derived from this Government, first as a Crown Colony and now as a State in Malaysia.
APPENDIX
——
Specimen list of mammals so far identified from Niah Cave Stone Age food-bone deposits will illustrate the value of keeping everything in an excavation; in this case to build up a complete picture of prehistoric food habits. Similar studies on bird, fish, and reptile bone are in hand. The mammal work was organized and patiently carried on by Lord Medway and largely undertaken by him personally, with special help from Dr. Hooijer, in Holland, Lord Cranbrook in England, and Pat Marshall in Hong Kong. (For an introductory survey see Medway in Sarawak Museum Journal, VIII, 1958, 12:627-636). Comparative frequency of remains in the first seasons for a typical series of trenches down to 72" (Medway p. 631) gave approximately:
Total no. of identifiable bones in Stone Age food remains (0 - 72").
(Sample only);
Group Mammal Bird Reptile Fish 6,380 85 383+(Turtle, 305) 27 6,875Over ninety per cent mammal bone is common form. For the mammals eaten, other than seven species of bat (also living in the cave, and difficult to distinguish as between food and dead falls), here is a brief summary, based mainly on Lord Medway's records, but my generalizations (and possible errors):
NIAH CAVE, 1947 - 1964
25
Sheila Brooks, Dr. Richard Shutler (who has already made one visit) and their associates in the U.S.A.
The work continues actively with increasing emphasis ou publication, generously aided by The Asia Foundation and the Otago Museum in New Zealand, as well as those already listed. In conclusion, 1 stress that from start to finish this has been and is a Sarawak Government based study. The main costs and all the conceptions have been derived from this Government, first as a Crown Colony and now as a State in Malaysia.
APPENDIX
——
Specimen list of mammals so far identified from Niah Cave Stone Age food-bone deposits will illustrate the value of keeping everything in an excavation; in this case to build up a complete picture of prehistoric food habits similar studies on bird, fish and reptile bone are in hand. The mammal work was organized and patiently carried on by Lord Medway and largely undertaken by him personally, with special help from Dr. Hooijer, in Holland, Lord Cranbrook in England and Pat Marshall in Hong Kong. (For an introductory survey see Medway in Sarawak Museum Journal, VIII, 1958, 12:627-636). Comparative frequency of remains in the first seasons for a typical series of trenches down to 72" (Medway p. 631) gave approximately:
Total no. of identifiable bones in Stone Age food remains (0 - 72").
(Sample only);
Group Mammal
Bird
Reptile Fish
6,380
85
383+(Turtle, 305)
27
6,875
Over ninety per cent mammal bone is common form. For the mammals eaten, other than seven species of bat (also living in the cave, and difficult to distinguish as between food and dead falls), here is a brief summary, based mainly on Lord Medway's records, but my generalizations (and possible errors):
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