Gua Badak, in Lenggong, ulu Perak, Malaysia, is home to some rock art. However this is modern art. The charcoal drawings were made by the Negrito aborigines, probably just over 100 years ago.
The drawings were found in the 1920s by Ivor Norman Evans and were also documented by P.D.R. Williams-Hunt in 1950. They were then thought to have been lost by quarrying before being "rediscovered" in March 1992. I first saw them in May 1992.
At that time the hill was clearly visible from the road,
but now (2012) it is more hidden by trees.
Lenggong Valley was listed as a
World Heritage site in June 2012. The site is signposted from the road, but the sign near the hill has been vandalised
This is the 2007 sign -
The site is "closed off", but that didn't stop us!
There is a new pondok, but no information board
This is the signboard in 2007
The Negritos used the caves as shelters during hunting trips. The sketches depict tribal art such as animals, people, trees, mats, and even bicycles and motorcars. Apart from the charcoal drawings, they made white pictures by scrapping away the limestone rock.
These paintings have faded badly over the years, above taken in 1992 and below in 2012
The drawings are simple, featuring matchstick men. There is a man carrying a pole laden with coconuts. A bow and arrow symbolize the hunting tools which were replaced by the blowpipe. There are men on horses, a man with an elephant, a hunting party. Animals such as leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and porcupine all made for a good meal and were therefore illustrated.
View of the hill from the track to Gua Harimau
Gua Badak register number Prk 60/01.
See more on
Gua Badak posted July 2011.
© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission
No comments:
Post a Comment