Kajian Kebudayaan Paleolitik Di Sabah

Abstract

Abstrak

Kajian Arkeologi di Sabah hanya bermula sekitar 1960-an, dan diterajui oleh Tom dan Barbara Harrison. Walau bagaimanapun, kajian mereka hanya bersifat tinjauan awal dan ekskavasi. Hasil tinjauan tersebut telah membawa kepada penemuan rangka awal prasejarah yang dikatakan dapat dipertarikhan pada 40,000 Sebelum Masihi. Oleh itu, zaman Paleolitik di Sabah pada awalnya dikatakan bermula agak lewat dan tidak berdasarkan kepada pentarikhan mutlak. Pada tahun 1980-an, Peter Bellwood daripada Universiti National Australia (ANU) telah menjalankan kajian arkeologi yang lebih sistematik dan saintifik di Lembah Tingkayu dan  pentarikhan radiokarbon telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Susulan daripada pentarikhan mutlak tersebut, maka buat pertama kalinya, kronologi budaya di Lembah Tingkayu dapat dibina. Zaman Paleolitik di Lembah Tingkayu dikatakan bermula sekitar 28,000 tahun dahulu. Walau bagaimanapun, kajian terkini menunjukkan bahawa kemungkinan Zaman Paleolitik di Sabah bermula jauh lebih awal lagi. Hal ini adalah berdasarkan kepada kajian di Lembah Mansuli yang telah memberikan pentarikhan mutlak dengan kaedah pandar kilauan rangsangan optik iaitu 235,000 tahun dahulu. Kajian arkeologi di Sabah juga telah menunjukkan bahawa selain di timur Sabah, bahagian pedalaman sebelah barat Sabah turut memiliki tapak terbuka Paleolitik. Tapak ini berusia sekitar 53,000 hingga 44,000 tahun dahulu berdasarkan kepada pentarikhan pandar kilauan rangsangan optik. Ini menunjukkan bahawa bahagian barat dan pendalaman Sabah lebih lewat diduduki oleh masyarakat Paleolitik berbanding dengan di timur Sabah. Selain itu, di bahagian utara Sabah juga turut ditemui tapak terbuka Paleolitik. Kedua-dua tapak ini dikatakan merupakan bengkel pembuatan alat batu. Penyelidikan arkeologi di Sabah juga turut menunjukkan bahawa material batuan untuk penghasilan alat batu juga berbeza mengikut kawasan. Di pedalaman Sabah, batuan kuarzit telah digunakan sebagai sumber material batuan, sementara batuan rijang pula telah digunakan di bahagian utara dan timur Sabah. Ini juga menunjukkan bahawa masyarakat Paleolitik di Sabah mengetahui jenis material batuan yang sesuai untuk dijadikan alat batu yang terdapat di persekitarannya.  Keberadaan sumber bahan asas batuan ini juga berkemungkinan menjadi salah satu faktor sesuatu kawasan tersebut diduduki oleh masyarakat Paleolitik.

Kata kunci: Paleolitik, pentarikhan radiokarbon

 Abstract

Archaeological studies in Sabah only began around the 1960s by Tom and Barbara Harrison. However, this study was only a survey with few excavations in the form of excavation attempts. The results of the survey have provided a prehistoric skeleton in Sabah which is said to have begun around 40,000 BC. Thus, the Paleolithic Age in Sabah was found to be quite late. However, the age is not based on absolute appointments. In the 1980s, Peter Bellwood from the National University of Australia (ANU) conducted a more systematic and scientific archaeological study in the Tingkayu Valley. In fact, radiocarbon dating has been used in this study. Following the absolute deed, for the first time, cultural chronology in the Tingkayu Valley can be built. However, the early age of the Paleolithic Age in the Tingkayu Valley was said to have begun around 28,000 years ago. These appointments represent the early age of Paleolithic in Sabah. However, recent studies show that the possibility of Paelolitical Age in Sabah began much earlier. This is based on a study in the Mansuli Valley which has given absolute predictions by the optical stimulus shine method of 235,000 years ago. This has changed the prehistory of Sabah much earlier than before. In addition, archaeological studies in Sabah have also shown that not only in the east of Sabah have evidence of Paleolithic culture but in the western section of Sabah's West Paleolithic discovery. The site is said to be around 53,000 to 44,000 years ago based on the absolute dating of the optical stimulus shine method. This suggests that the possibility of the western part and deepening of Sabah is somewhat late occupied by the Paleolithic society compared to the east of Sabah. Additionally, in the northern part of Sabah was also found Paleolithic open site. Both sites are said to be stone tools manufacturing workshops. Archaeological research in Sabah also shows that rock material for the production of stone tools also varies by area. In the Sabah Deepening Division, quartzite rocks have been used as rock material resources, while rivers have been used in the northern and eastern parts of Sabah. This also shows that the Paleolithic community in Sabah knows the kind of rock material that is suitable to be used as a stone tool in the environment. The availability of these rock material resources is also likely to be one of the factors in which the area is occupied by the Paleolithic community.

Keywords: Paleolithic, radiocarbon dating