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Archaeologists made the discovery by accident while surveying the area before the construction of a hydroelectric plant.
In Malaysia, archaeologists have found caves in which there are more than a dozen prehistoric burials, up to 16 thousand years old, writes LiveScience.
The caves found are located 215 km from Kuala Lumpur and will be under water until mid-2027, when the hydroelectric plant is completed. It is expected that a lake with an area of 53 square meters will form in the region. km, which will power a 300-megawatt hydroelectric power plant.
An archaeologist from the National University of Malaysia, Zuliskandar Ramli, says that most of the skeletons found belong to the pre-Neolithic culture of the region.
Researchers suggest that this is a branch of the Hoabinh hunter-gatherer culture, who knew how to make unique stone tools. The Hoabinh people also used many wild plants in their daily life, including pepper, beans, betel nuts, etc.
Rumli and his team discovered the remains of 16 people who were buried in local limestone caves. Archaeologists say that 15 people were buried in a bent position, according to pre-Neolithic traditions. Only a few remains were buried in an upright position, and radiocarbon dating showed that this happened about 6 years ago.
In addition to skeletons, archaeologists found more than 71 prehistoric artifacts from the cave. Most of them are processed fragments of stone tools, as well as ceramic products and stone jewelry.
Many of the artifacts found are burial goods that were buried with the dead. Hematite or red ocher minerals, as well as crystals, have also been found in pre-Neolithic burials.
A bracelet made of stones, as well as polished stone tools and ceramic products were found in the grave of the Neolithic period.
