Abstract
This article discussed on the analysis of faunal remains from the aquatic environment uncovered from Bukit Kamiri, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. Based on the result of archeozoological analysis, the reptile, fish and mollusc remains from the Metal Age cultural layer were consisted of various fish and molluscs species of freshwater, estuarine, mangrove swamp, coastal, coral reef and marine habitats. A range of fishing, hunting and gathering methods were used to obtain the various types of food and resources. Besides their diet, the reptile, fish and mollusc remains also show that it was used multi-purposely as grave goods, based on its association with the finding of human burial.
Highlights
An excavation had been carried out in 2007 by the Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia in collaboration with the Sabah Museum Department and the National Heritage Department at the volcanic rock shelter site of Bukit Kamiri, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia (Figure 1)
Discussions on the identified aquatic faunal remains according to the vertebrate and invertebrate classes are as follows
The species of turtles that were exploited by the Metal Age societies in Bukit Kamiri are most likely Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata or Lepidochelys olivacea
Summary
An excavation had been carried out in 2007 by the Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia in collaboration with the Sabah Museum Department and the National Heritage Department at the volcanic rock shelter site of Bukit Kamiri, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia (Figure 1). The excavation had shown evidences of a Late Prehistoric (Metal Age) culture dated 2,830 BP (Chia et al, 2005:204; Chia, 2007; 2008; 2016; Eng, 2009:175-176; Eng and Chia, 2010:44). The material cultures found were stone tools, pottery shards, beads, metal objects, human skeletons and faunal remains (vertebrate and invertebrate remains). The faunal remains from the Metal Age layer had been analysed by using archaeozoological approaches. The discussion that will be focused in this paper is only on the result of the analysis on aquatic fauna which are reptilian bones, fish bones and mollusc remains
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