Siang, Noel Hidalgo Tan Suwi
(2010)
Scientific Reinvestigation
Of The Rock Art At
Gua Tambun, Perak.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
This study presents the findings of the latest research conducted at the rock art site of
Gua Tambun, in Perak, Malaysia. Gua Tambun is a rock shelter overlooking the city
of Ipoh and it contains numerous paintings including depictions of wildlife and human
forms in various shades of red, orange and purple. However, since its initial ‘discovery’
some 50 years ago, little research has been carried out at Gua Tambun because
of the traditional difficulties in investigating and understanding rock art. The aims of
this study is to expand the current knowledge about the rock art at Gua Tambun by
creating a record and inventory of the site; conduct investigations into the nature of
the rock pigments used to create the paintings; make comparisons with other rock art
in the region, particularly in Southern Thailand to seek similarities in form; and to determine
the date, technology and authorship of the rock art. Where early reports have
estimated the number of 50-80 paintings present at the site, a staggering 640 individual
rock art elements were recorded and catalogued, many of which were barely visible to
the naked eye. Data on each of the 640 elements is presented in Volume 2 of this study.
In addition, rock art was also found in many other smaller panels distributed along
the walls of the shelter that were previously not reported. Analysis of the pigments
confirmed an early assumption that at least some of the rock art were painted using
haematite of local origin.
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