Post by L Roebuck on Mar 15, 2006 9:15:46 GMT -5
Filmmaker in hot water
By RUBEN SARIO
The Star
KOTA KINABALU: Filmmaker Michael Chick, who claimed to have stumbled upon a Neolithic archaeological site near Semporna, may find himself in hot water with the law.
The authorities alleged that he had trespassed into a site where archaeologists had been working on for over 10 years.
Sabah Museum director Datuk Joseph Guntavid said South-East Asia’s biggest ancient pottery-making centre, dating back 3,500 years, could be in the vicinity where the Kuala Lumpur-based filmmaker found bone parts and pottery last week.
Guntavid said the cave near Semporna, where Chick found the items, was close to where Universiti Sains Malaysia archaeologists had been working on since 1994.
“We are disappointed that the bones and pieces of pottery had been removed from the site as this would affect the research efforts, including the carbon-dating process,” said Guntavid, who expressed surprise that someone had entered the site without the museum’s permission.
The Star had reported that Chick found skeletal remains and broken pottery, believed to be around 2,000 to 3,000 years old, at a U-shaped cave near the east coast district.
Guntavid said in terms of archaeological research, it was far more important for the items to be left undisturbed at the site.
He said the USM research, which included archaeological survey and excavations, revealed that the site was used as a major pottery-making area and the items made were believed to have originated from large clay deposits found at the foot of Bukit Tangkorak in Semporna.
Archaeological research also indicated that other activities, like stone tool-making and daily subsistence activities, also took place at the site.
“The large amount of food remains like molluscs, fish and turtle bones indicated a maritime-based diet. Other dietary items included remains of wild boar, mouse deer, monkey, barking deer and crabs,” Guntavid added.
In Penang, NIK KHUSAIRI IBRAHIM, who contacted Guntavid, quoted him as saying that Chick had committed an offence under the Antiques and Treasure Trove Enactment 1977.
“Perhaps he is not aware that it is an offence to film, enter the sites or carry out any form of activity at the pre-historic sites without prior permission,” he said.
“I have never met him, and he has never requested approval to carry out filming or excavation works in Sabah,” he added.
thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/14/nation/13659328&sec=nation
By RUBEN SARIO
The Star
KOTA KINABALU: Filmmaker Michael Chick, who claimed to have stumbled upon a Neolithic archaeological site near Semporna, may find himself in hot water with the law.
The authorities alleged that he had trespassed into a site where archaeologists had been working on for over 10 years.
Sabah Museum director Datuk Joseph Guntavid said South-East Asia’s biggest ancient pottery-making centre, dating back 3,500 years, could be in the vicinity where the Kuala Lumpur-based filmmaker found bone parts and pottery last week.
Guntavid said the cave near Semporna, where Chick found the items, was close to where Universiti Sains Malaysia archaeologists had been working on since 1994.
“We are disappointed that the bones and pieces of pottery had been removed from the site as this would affect the research efforts, including the carbon-dating process,” said Guntavid, who expressed surprise that someone had entered the site without the museum’s permission.
The Star had reported that Chick found skeletal remains and broken pottery, believed to be around 2,000 to 3,000 years old, at a U-shaped cave near the east coast district.
Guntavid said in terms of archaeological research, it was far more important for the items to be left undisturbed at the site.
He said the USM research, which included archaeological survey and excavations, revealed that the site was used as a major pottery-making area and the items made were believed to have originated from large clay deposits found at the foot of Bukit Tangkorak in Semporna.
Archaeological research also indicated that other activities, like stone tool-making and daily subsistence activities, also took place at the site.
“The large amount of food remains like molluscs, fish and turtle bones indicated a maritime-based diet. Other dietary items included remains of wild boar, mouse deer, monkey, barking deer and crabs,” Guntavid added.
In Penang, NIK KHUSAIRI IBRAHIM, who contacted Guntavid, quoted him as saying that Chick had committed an offence under the Antiques and Treasure Trove Enactment 1977.
“Perhaps he is not aware that it is an offence to film, enter the sites or carry out any form of activity at the pre-historic sites without prior permission,” he said.
“I have never met him, and he has never requested approval to carry out filming or excavation works in Sabah,” he added.
thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/14/nation/13659328&sec=nation