Kain Hitam Cave (Painted Cave) Niah, Sarawak: The Relationship of Boat-Shaped Coffin and Rock Painting

Abstract

This paper discusses the relevance that exists in a cave used as a place of residence since the time of Neolithic. This archaeological site contains important artefacts that show modern civilization (homo sapiens) at the end of the Neolithic period. This research focuses on the cultural development of the ancient people through the discovery of artefacts in the Kain Hitam Cave. Preliminary findings show that ritual activities have been practised. Initial conclusions indicate that the ancient people practised animism. The linkages between the two aspects are essential in giving new insight into the cultural elements they were practising years ago.

Keywords: Kain Hitam Cave; boat-shaped coffin; cave painting; culture and interpretation.

eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2576