Zaman Prasejarah di Negeri Perlis dalam Konteks Arkeologi (Archaeological context of Prehistoric Period in Perlis)

Abstract

ABSTRAK: Perlis yang merupakan negeri yang terkecil di Malaysia mempunyai warisan penting dalam konteks zaman prasejarah yang boleh ditonjolkan sebagai salah satu produk arkeo-pelancongan dan masih belum didedahkan secara maksimum. Artikel ini cuba untuk mendedahkan tapak arkeologi dan artifak zaman prasejarah di Perlis yang secara tidak langsung mendedahkan kepentingan negeri Perlis dalam konteks perkembangan dan pergerakan manusia zaman prasejarah. Data arkeologi membuktikan bahawa Perlis sudah pun diduduki oleh manusia sejak 5000 hingga 10,000 tahun yang lalu. Jumpaan seperti alat batu ‘sumatralith’ membuktikan wujudnya budaya yang dinamakan kebudayaan ‘Hoabinhian’ di Perlis. Bukti masyarakat yang mengamalkan kebudayaan Neolitik juga banyak ditemui di gua-gua di sekitar Perlis dengan jumpaan artifak seperti tembikar tanah dan beliung kapak batu bergilap di samping jumpaan gelang batu. Gua-gua di Perlis terutamanya di kawasan bukit Chuping, Bukit Tegun Lembu, Bukit Ngulang, Bukit Kerengga dan Bukit Changkul telah digunakan sebagai tapak pengebumian masyarakat Neolitik berdasarkan jumpaan artifak yang selalunya berasosiasi dengan perkuburan masyarakat tersebut. Penemuan kalam semah ‘Votive tablet’ di Gua Berhala dan Gua Kurong Batang yang mempunyai imej Avaloketisvara dan Bodhisattva serta ayat-ayat suci Buddha menunjukkan bahawa Perlis juga menyumbang kepada perkembangan era proto-sejarah di Malaysia. Data arkeologi yang banyak di Perlis menunjukkan bahawa negeri Perlis suatu ketika dahulu merupakan laluan perdagangan dan jalan utama yang digunakan oleh masyarakat prasejarah yang kemudiannya berevolusi dan berkembang daripada sudut sosio-budaya, ekonomi, sains dan teknologi ketika zaman protosejarah.

Kata kunci: Hoabinhian; Neolitik; zaman prasejarah; Bukit Tegun Lembu (Bukit Tengku Lembu)

ABSTRACT: Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia comprehend important heritage in the context of prehistoric period which can be highlighted as one of archaeo-tourism product and has not been exposed to the maximum. This article attempts to uncover archaeological sites and prehistoric artifacts in Perlis which indirectly reveal the importance of Perlis in the context of the development and the movement of prehistoric humans. The archaeological data show that Perlis already occupied by man since 5000 to 10,000 years ago. Findings such as ‘sumatralith’ stone tool prove the existence of “Hoabinhian” culture occurred in Perlis. The existence of Neolithic culture also has been found in the cave or rock shelter around Perlis which associated the culture with artifacts such as pottery, polished stone adze or axe and also stone ring. Cave around Perlis such as in Bukit Chuping, Bukit Tegun Lembu, Bukit Ngulang, Bukit Kerengga and Bukit Changkul also have been used as a burial site by the Neolithic people based on artifacts used as burial gifts which associated with the burial site of Neolithic culture. The finding of votice tablets in Berhala Cave and Kurong Batang Cave which contains Avaloketisvara and Bodhisattva images and also Buddhist credo shows that Perlis has contribute to the development of protohistoric period. Abundances of archaeological data in Perlis shows that Perlis was once a trade routes and paths used by prehistoric people who later evolved and expanded in term of socio-culture, economy, science and technology during protohistoric period.

Keywords: Hoabinhian; Neolithic; prehistoric period; Bukit Tegun Lembu (Bukit Tengku Lembu)