COMPLEX OF EARLY BURIALS IN NIAH CAVE (BORNEO) AND THE PROBLEM OF FUNERAL TRADITIONS DIVERSITY IN ISLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14258/tpai(2019)2(26).-12Keywords:
Southeast Asia, Niah cave complex, primary and secondary burials, dating, ritualsAbstract
Niah Cave complex (Malaysian part of the Borneo island) is a unique archaeological site, which has been studied since the mid – 20th century. An impressive series of burials dated by different periods from the Late Paleolithic to the Middle Ages is of special interest. In this article the authors consider the group of burials, which belong to the Early Holocene (pre-Neolithic tradition) (9,3–7,000 BP); review the history of the studies at the Niah complex in the framework of several international archaeological projects (T. and B. Harrisson, Z. Majid, G. Barker, and D. Curnoe); give variants of classifications of burials on the basis of various criteria (corpses position, primary or secondary character), and variety of funeral practices; analyze the features of their spatial distribution within the cave and dates; and also turn to the most informative analogies within the island and coastal parts of South-East Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia), and to the problems of interpretation of the funeral traditions of early hunter-gatherers-fishers in the tropical zone of the Pacific basin.
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References
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Bulbeck D. The Last Glacial Maximum Human Burial from Liang Lambudu in Northern Sahulland // The Archaeology of the Aru Islands, Eastern Indonesia. Canberra : The Australian National University, 2005. Pp. 255–294.
Curnoe D., Datan I., Taçon P.S.C., Leh Moi Ung C., Sauffi M.S. Deep Skull from Niah Cave and the Pleistocene Peopling of Southeast Asia // Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2016. V. 4. Pp. 8–17.
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Harrisson T. The Prehistory of Borneo // Asian Perspectives. 1970. V. 13. Pp. 17–45.
Harrisson T. Early Dates for “Seated” Burial and Burial Mating at Niah Caves, Sarawak (Borneo) // Asian Perspectives. 1975. V. 18. Pp. 161–165.
Lloyd-Smith L. Early Holocene Burial Practice at Niah Cave, Sarawak // Indo-Pacific Archaeology. 2012. V. 32. Pp. 54–69.
Lloyd-Smith L. The West Mouth Neolithic cemetery, Niah Cave, Sarawak // Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 2013. V. 79. Pp. 105–136.
Majid Z. The West Mouth, Niah, in the Prehistory of Southeast Asia // Sarawak Museum Journal. 1982. V. 31. Pp. 1–200.
Nguyën D., Nguyën Q.Q. Early Neolithic Skulls in Quýnh Ván, Nghê An, North Vietnam // Vertebrata Palasiaiica. 1966. V. 10(l). Pp. 47–57.
Sieveking G.D.G. Excavations at Gua Cha, Kelantan // Federation Museums Journal. 1954. N. 1–2. P. 75–138.
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Ván T.H. Nouvelles recherches préhistoriques et protohistoriques au Vietnam // Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. 1980. T. 68.
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Published
2019-06-18
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Section
FOREIGN ARCHAEOLOGY
How to Cite
COMPLEX OF EARLY BURIALS IN NIAH CAVE (BORNEO) AND THE PROBLEM OF FUNERAL TRADITIONS DIVERSITY IN ISLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA. (2019). THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 26(2), 167-178. https://doi.org/10.14258/tpai(2019)2(26).-12
