Gua Teluk Kelawar, Lenggong

Gua Teluk Kelawar, Lenggong (23 July 2023)


Gua Teluk Kelawar (GPS: 5.12149, 100.97751) is a late paleolithic site in Lenggong, Perak. It is reached from a path that connects to the Taman Kota Lenggong housing estate, off Jalan Lenggong-Gerik. The cave is at the foot of the Bukit Kepala Gajah limestone massif, which in proximity to other late paleolithic sites such as Gua Gunung Runtuh, Gua Ngaum and Gua Kajang.

Gua Teluk Kelawar is a rock shelter. The team of archaeologists from the Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Jabatan Muzium Malaysia conducted excavations here in 1991, and from 1995 to 2004. The excavations revealed oval unifacial pebble tools and Brotia sp. shells and animal bones.

Charcoal samples taken in 1990 provides the earliest dating to 10,245 +/- bp (before present). The site is believed to function as a temporary camp site by a hunter-gather community.

In April 2004, a fragmentary skeleton, labelled skeleton GTK1, was discovered at the site, at trench JZ3. The skeleton was in a flexed position, and was uncovered at a depth of between 100 and 110cm. The skeleton, a female, was probably placed in a shallow grave, and haematite powder was sprinkled on and around the body. The person was between 143cm to 151cm tall. The death could not be determined, as the remains were in a very poor state of preservation. Based on the non-metric cranium and teeth analysis, the person is of Australo-Melanesoid stock.

The dental wear of the lower molar points to an age of between 45 and 50 years old. Based on tooth wear, the person is said to consume a diet rich in fibre her entire life, with the strong jaw bone indicative of forceful chewing activity. The lost of the upper interior tooth pointed to a trauma, such as a fall.

The skeleton was buried with stone tools such as oval unifacial pebble tools, shells and animal bones. As is the practise at such sites, some 2,000 riverine shells were found scattered over the burial. Radiocarbon dating conducted on the shell samples provided a date of 8,400 +/- bp.

My visit to Gua Teluk Kelawar

I visited Gua Teluk Kelawar accompanied by two archaeologists, Dr Velat Bujeng and Dr Saw Chaw Yeh, as part of an archaeological course on 23 July 2023.

Visiting Lenggong World Heritage Site

Universiti Sains Malaysia conducts its own archaeological tours for the general public. I am able to assist in connecting you to the experts involved. Please write to me for details.

The approach to Gua Teluk Kelawar is on the Map of Lenggong, Perak

Taking the forest path towards Gua Teluk Kelawar. (23 July 2023)


Dr Velat led the way to the Gua Teluk Kelawar site. On his left is an interpretive board. (23 July 2023)


The interpretive board provides just the direction to the cave. (23 July 2023)


Participants arriving at entrance of Gua Teluk Kelawar. On the right is an on-site pavilion that is now in a dilapidated state. (23 July 2023)


In the absence of maintenance, the pavilion is now in ruins. (23 July 2023)


There are two other smaller pavilions and they too are in disrepair. (23 July 2023)


The cave, or to be exact, the rock shelter, is behind lock and key. (23 July 2023)


Dr Velat stationed himself to provide on-site briefing. (23 July 2023)


Participants examining the excavation site of Gua Teluk Kelawar. (23 July 2023)


Standing on the excavation trenches at Gua Teluk Kelawar. (23 July 2023)


View of the wall of the rock shelter. (23 July 2023)


The sheer wall of the limestone massif of Bukit Kepala Gajah, under which is Gua Teluk Kelawar. (23 July 2023)


Group shot with the participants for Universiti Sains Malaysia's archaeological course at Gua Teluk Kelawar. (23 July 2023)

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