| Niah
Cave INTRODUCTION The Limestone - Natural forming and carving of limestone |
 The
Great CaveNiah is another attraction to tourism in north east region of Sarawak (Miri). It is the place of oldest modern human settlement and civilization found in this region. In year 1958, 40,000 years old remains of a modern human (Paleolithic Era - earliest stone age) was found by Tom Harrison and his archaeology team at a dig of West Mouth of the Great Cave, this discovery was finally proved by modern scientific dating techniques. |
 Million
of cave swiflets that live in the cave make their nests purely from
their own salivary secretions, and when the nests are cleaned and
cooked they produce the famous birds nest soup, which is as highly
regarded in Chinese cuisine as caviar is in the West. Prices vary
to the quality of the bird nest. Collecting
the nest from the cave ceiling is a dangerous and difficult job,
thus the price of birds nest is so high. Obviously such a valuable
commodity is a magnet and highly business potential for poachers
who will collect the bird nest unlawfully, therefore the caves are
constantly monitored by park wardens, to prevent illegal collectors.
Shortly after the moon cave, the plankwalk emerges into daylight and a short pathway through the forest leads to the Painted Cave. This is the site of the famous Niah cave paintings and the place where the ‘death-ships’ were found. |
 The
Painted CaveA wall painting that depicting the boat journey of the dead into the afterlife. Most importantly the painted wall was explained by the discovery of a number of death-ships on the cave floor - a boat-shaped coffins containing the remains of the deceased. The death-ships burials have been dated as ranging between 1 AD and 780 AD. The human figures and the boats of the painting probably respresenting warriors and hunters with longboats carrying the soul of the deceased on the journey to the land of death or resting place. The atmosphere of the painted cave is very relaxing, it is easy to understand that why the early inhabitants had chosen a suitable resting place for their ancestors afterlife. |
The
passage at entrance of the Great Cave leads to a large chamber
known as the Padang, where there is shaft of sunlight stream
down from large holes in the cave roof to illuminate the bizarre
rock formations in the Burnt Cave. This is another excellent
spot for taking photos and viewing the scenary. After the Padang,
the cave passage becomes pitch black, and it is here that you
will need the flashlight, not only to find your way along the
plankwalk, but to view the extraordinary shapes and weathering
effects found in the Moon Cave.