That's what happened to a group of archeologists in Perlis recently.

Amazing discovery

Archaeologists from the Department of National Heritage (JWN) have recently uncovered ancient skeletons, fossil and even drawings in Gua Semadong and Bukit Keteri in Perlis on Thursday (14 October).

According to New Straits Times, these skeletons and drawings date back to the protohistory era.

(If you're not familiar, the protohistory era is the period of time prehistory and history where a civilisation or a culture has not yet developed writing #NowYouKnowLah)

Image credit: Facebook/Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Negeri Perlis

Image credit: Facebook/Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Negeri Perlis

Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof, the commissioner of JWN, told the news portal that the remains found in Bukit Keteri as well as the drawings -- which came in the shape of elephants, cows, apes and humans -- have been discovered since 2018.

"Many of the fragments of the human skeleton fossils found in Bukit Keteri are estimated to be between 5,000 and 10,000 years old and the cave drawings in Gua Semadong is believed to have Hindu-Buddhist influences estimated to date back to the 5th to the 10th century," he was quoted as saying.

Image credit: Facebook/Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Negeri Perlis

Mohd Azmi said previous research done by the JWN and the discovery of various types of artefacts including stone tools and earthenware revealed that Bukit Chuping, Bukit Ngulang, Bukit Tunku Lembu, Bukit Changkul and Bukit Kerengga areas were once settlements and funeral grounds for Paleolithic and Neolithic communities.

"In fact, we believe these areas were not only inhabited by prehistoric community, but were once the settlement of protohistoric community, where artefacts such as votive tablets had been discovered," he further added.

The discoveries of these artefacts add to those found earlier in the Bujang Valley in Kedah and Kelantan, Mohd Azmi said.

"This is a significant discovery in Perlis. It is a good input for us when drafting our historic chronology," he was further quoted as saying.

Image credit: Facebook/Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Negeri Perlis

Image credit: Facebook/Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Negeri Perlis

With the discoveries, Mohd Azmi hopes that the public will help preserve the artefacts.

"We will start the process to gazette the areas concerned as historical sites to protect them from being compromised," he added.

That's such an awesome discovery! Who knows we'll find dinosaur fossil in Malaysia soon, kan?