Location & Setting

Lenggong Valley lies in the foothills between the Bintang and Titiwangsa mountain ranges in northern Perak, northeast of Ipoh, Malaysia. This lush, rural area features small kampongs, dense vegetation, limestone hills, and numerous caves.

Archaeological Significance

Lenggong Valley is one of Peninsular Malaysia’s most important archaeological regions. It holds some of the earliest evidence of human presence outside Africa, spanning nearly 2 million years of prehistory, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

Key Discoveries

• Perak Man: The valley’s most famous find, discovered in Gua Gunung Runtuh, is an 11,000-year-old complete human skeleton—the oldest of its kind in Southeast Asia. He belonged to the Australomelanesoid group and lived during the late Pleistocene/early Holocene.
• Bukit Bunuh: Site of a meteorite impact 1.83 million years ago that preserved some of the oldest Palaeolithic hand axes outside Africa.
• Kota Tampan: Abandoned after the catastrophic Toba eruption 70,000 years ago. Contains a well-preserved stone tool workshop.
• Bukit Jawa, Gua Harimau: Additional workshop sites dating from 200,000 to 1,000 years ago.

These findings span the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, and Metal Ages, suggesting the area once supported a semi-sedentary population.

Main Cave Sites

• Gua Gunung Runtuh: Site of Perak Man.
• Gua Teluk Kelawar & Gua Kajang: Burial sites and evidence of habitation.
• Gua Kajang: Excavated in 1917; finds include Paleolithic and Neolithic graves, tools, food remains, and some of the oldest pottery in Malaysia. The cave is rich in stalactites, stalagmites, and natural tunnels.
• Gua Asar: Near Gua Kajang, still largely unstudied. Named after the Muslim Asar prayer.

World Heritage Criteria

• Criterion (iii): Lenggong is an exceptional testimony to human occupation from 1.83 million to 1,700 years ago.
• Criterion (iv): The intact open-air Palaeolithic workshops represent outstanding examples of early technology.

Integrity & Authenticity

The sites remain largely intact and undisturbed, although modern agricultural activity slightly impacts the landscape. Ongoing research (mostly post-1987) and well-preserved geological features support the site’s historical authenticity.

Protection & Management

Protected under several national laws, the valley is managed by the Lenggong District Council with support from the Department of National Heritage and Universiti Sains Malaysia. A Heritage Steering Committee oversees implementation of a property management plan that includes tourism, conservation, risk management, and stakeholder collaboration.

Gua Kajang

Gua Asar

Gua Kelam

Archaeology Gallery

The Archaeology Gallery at Kampung Baru Kota Tampan is worth a visit to understand the history and significance of the archaeological findings at the various locations in Lenggong Valley. Here you can see a replica model of Perak Man (the original is apparently in the museum in Kuala Lumpur temporarily).

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Passionate Photographer …. Lost in Asia

Stuart Taylor of HighlanderImages Photography has been making images for over 30 years and can offer a diverse range of photo imaging services with a focus on Asia and a documentary/photojournalistic style. These services include planning and executing a photo shoot on location but importantly all the post-processing and image preparation needed for the specific finished media format required by the customer. Stuart’s experience and knowledge in all of these aspects make HighlanderImages Photography a one-stop-shop for a comprehensive and professional image production service.

Stuart can be available for a variety individual assignments or projects and he specialises in areas such as photojournalism, commercial, architectural, real estate, industrial, interior design, corporate, urbex, adventure, wilderness, and travel photography. 

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E-Mail : staylor@highlanderimages.com

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