International geoscientists explore Niah’s geological and archaeological treasures

Miri, Sarawak – 18 October 2026 – More than 50 geoscientists from eight countries explored the geological wonders and ancient human heritage of Niah National Park during a post-conference field excursion on 3 October, bringing scientific discussions at the 39th National Geoscience Conference (NGC 2026) to life.

Organised by Curtin University Malaysia Curtin Malaysia) with support from the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) and the Geological Society of Malaysia (GSM), the excursion offered the participants an opportunity to examine the tropical karst landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage site and learn about its geological formations, archaeological discoveries and conservation challenges.

Participants from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Malaysia explored limestone pinnacles, distinctive erosion features and caves shaped by thousands of years of natural processes.

The field trip was led by geoscientists from Curtin Malaysia’s Department of Applied Sciences, including Professor M.V. Prasanna and Associate Professor Dominique Dodge-Wan, supported by Dr. Vijay Anand Sundarrajan, Dr. Syed Bilawal Ali Shah and Fiona Bassy William.

Along the forest trails, the participants observed pinnacled limestone formations, pancake-like erosion features and swamp notch caves characteristic of the region’s tropical karst terrain. At Traders’ Cave, they examined features of the cave walls documented by Curtin researchers and learned about archaeological investigations at the site.

The group then proceeded to the Great Cave via the newly installed walkway connecting Traders’ Cave to the southern area of West Mouth. There, the participants received a briefing on the protected archaeological excavation site where the renowned “Deep Skull” was discovered.

Niah’s caves preserve evidence of human interaction with the rainforest dating back at least 50,000 years, spanning the Pleistocene to the Mid-Holocene. The excursion also highlighted the relationship between the caves and surrounding communities, including traditional practices involving guano collection and edible bird’s nest harvesting.

The programme was attended by JMG Director General Datuk Hj. Zamri bin Ramli, JMG Sarawak Director Jaithish John and JMG Deputy Director Edward Muol. Mohamad Kasyfullah Bin Zaini, Controller of National Parks and Nature Reserves at the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, and local park rangers also supported the excursion, sharing their knowledge of forest vegetation, ecosystems and conservation.

The visit complemented the two-day NGC 2026, themed “Innovation and Sustainable Geoscience for a Resilient Future”. Organised by GSM in collaboration with JMG Sarawak and Curtin Malaysia, the conference brought together more than 300 participants from industry, government, non-governmental organisations and academia for technical presentations and poster sessions.

The conference was officially opened by Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment.

By connecting conference discussions with on-site observations, the Niah excursion provided an opportunity for geoscientists to deepen their understanding of Sarawak’s geological heritage and the importance of safeguarding its natural and archaeological treasures for future generations.

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International geoscientists gather at Niah Cave during the field excursion.

Professor Prasanna explains cave formations to participants along the trail.