Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak

The megalithic and non-megalithic monuments of the Kelabit Highlands gained prominence in archaeological circles and in public eyes through the pioneering research conducted by Tom Harrisson from the late 1940s to the 1970s. From the mid-1970s to 2000, however, there was a lack of new archaeological...

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Main Author: Nicholas Gani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ikatan Ahli Arkeologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/1/252-461-1-SM.pdf
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author Nicholas Gani,
author_facet Nicholas Gani,
author_sort Nicholas Gani,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The megalithic and non-megalithic monuments of the Kelabit Highlands gained prominence in archaeological circles and in public eyes through the pioneering research conducted by Tom Harrisson from the late 1940s to the 1970s. From the mid-1970s to 2000, however, there was a lack of new archaeological research on the monuments of the Kelabit Highlands. This changed beginning in the 2000s with new interests in the monuments of the Kelabit Highlands in terms of their preservation and conservation (Cluny and Chai 2007; Hitchner 2009), as well as in archaeological research (Barker et al. 2008; Barker et al. 2009; Lloyd-Smith et al. 2010; Lloyd-Smith 2012; Lloyd-Smith et al. 2013; Lloyd-Smith et al. 2017). With new findings coming to the fore in recent years, this paper reviews the present state of knowledge on the megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak. This review is based on the study of existing literature and archival research, as well as archaeological excavations and surveys, and ethnographic research conducted in the field by the author. First, this article discusses previous archaeological research conducted on the monuments. Following that, this article discusses the chronology of the monument building tradition in the Kelabit Highlands and the typology of monuments. Next, this article focuses on the social contexts of monument building, as well as the cultural significance of monuments to the Kelabit people. By employing both archaeological and ethnographic perspectives, this article contributes a more holistic and nuanced understanding of a monument building tradition in the Kelabit Highlands that began more than 2,000 years ago and continued until around the middle of the 20th century.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:189222022-07-05T08:48:40Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/ Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak Nicholas Gani, The megalithic and non-megalithic monuments of the Kelabit Highlands gained prominence in archaeological circles and in public eyes through the pioneering research conducted by Tom Harrisson from the late 1940s to the 1970s. From the mid-1970s to 2000, however, there was a lack of new archaeological research on the monuments of the Kelabit Highlands. This changed beginning in the 2000s with new interests in the monuments of the Kelabit Highlands in terms of their preservation and conservation (Cluny and Chai 2007; Hitchner 2009), as well as in archaeological research (Barker et al. 2008; Barker et al. 2009; Lloyd-Smith et al. 2010; Lloyd-Smith 2012; Lloyd-Smith et al. 2013; Lloyd-Smith et al. 2017). With new findings coming to the fore in recent years, this paper reviews the present state of knowledge on the megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak. This review is based on the study of existing literature and archival research, as well as archaeological excavations and surveys, and ethnographic research conducted in the field by the author. First, this article discusses previous archaeological research conducted on the monuments. Following that, this article discusses the chronology of the monument building tradition in the Kelabit Highlands and the typology of monuments. Next, this article focuses on the social contexts of monument building, as well as the cultural significance of monuments to the Kelabit people. By employing both archaeological and ethnographic perspectives, this article contributes a more holistic and nuanced understanding of a monument building tradition in the Kelabit Highlands that began more than 2,000 years ago and continued until around the middle of the 20th century. Ikatan Ahli Arkeologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022-04 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/1/252-461-1-SM.pdf Nicholas Gani, (2022) Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak. Jurnal Arkeologi Malaysia, 35 (1). pp. 81-104. ISSN 0128-0732 http://arkeologimalaysia.org.my/jurnalarkeologi/index.php/jurnalarkeologi/issue/view/41
spellingShingle Nicholas Gani,
Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak
title Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak
title_full Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak
title_fullStr Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak
title_full_unstemmed Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak
title_short Megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak
title_sort megalithic and non-megalithic monuments in the kelabit highlands of sarawak
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18922/1/252-461-1-SM.pdf