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An Extinct Giant Pangolin and Associated Mammals from Niah Cave, Sarawak

Abstract

EXAMINATION of the mammalian remains excavated from the west mouth of Niah Cave, Sarawak1, in 1954–58 down to a depth of 72 in., which corresponds to a carbon-14 date of about 32,000 years B.P. (ref. 2), established a fauna containing only the lowland evergreen rain forest species of modern south-east Asia3; of those identified, only the Malay tapir4 and the tiger (an unerupted canine from Neolithic levels (E/G1, 6–12 in.)) are to-day unknown from the wild in Borneo.

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References

  1. See Harrisson, T., Man, 59, 1 (1959), and Sarawak Mus. J., Nos. 12–14 (New Series), for earlier progress reports of this excavation.

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  2. Harrisson, T., Sarawak Mus. J., 9, 137 (1959).

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  3. Medway Lord, Sarawak Mus. J., 8, 627 (1958).

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  4. Medway Lord, Sarawak Mus. J., 9, 146 (1959).

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  5. By extrapolation from figures given by Harrisson, l.c., ref. (2).

  6. Still found in the cave; Medway Lord, Sarawak Mus. J., 8, 667 (1958).

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HARRISSON, T., HOOIJER, D. & MEDWAY An Extinct Giant Pangolin and Associated Mammals from Niah Cave, Sarawak. Nature 189, 166 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/189166a0

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