By Frank Zhang of AFP
Hong Kong, AFP – Archaeologists here have unearthed a 4,000-year-old burial ground, revealing for the first time the way of life for some of Hong Kong’s earliest residents.
But their joy is mixed with frustration as developers press ahead with plans to begin transforming the vacant land on the outlying island of Ma Wan into a housing estate in about two weeks, with one high-rise apartment block to be erected on top of the burial site itself.
Antiquities and Monuments Office curator Chau Hing-wah said the Neolithic find, which included at least 15 sets of human remains and some objects believed to date back 5,000 years, was the biggest of its kind in Hong Kong.
"It’s the first time ever in the territory," he said.
"The historical significance is so great. It is very important for us to investigate the history of Hong Kong."
Among the remains at the site, archaeologists have recovered polished stone artefacts, including blades, chisels, arrowheads, spearheads, rings, slotted rings and tube ornaments.
The position of the human remains suggested the bodies had been buried lying flat and face-up, with their heads all pointing south.
"We still found no evidence of civilisation in that period," Chau said.
"I believe they were still in a very primitive stage."
Ma Wan was a sleepy outpost of the territory, home to only a small number of fishermen, until it was thrust into the spotlight in 1989 with the unveiling of plans for the multi-billion US dollar Chek Lap Kok airport project and supporting infrastructure.
A massive suspension bridge now touches down there, linking the Kowloon peninsula with Lantau island, where the airport is set to open next year.
The bridge also spells the end for the quiet way of life in the island’s sole village of Pak Wan, with the territory’s land-starved developers eagerly seizing the opportunity to build more flats.
Development giant Sun Hung Kai has given archaeologists until mid-November to finish their work at the site before sending in bulldozers to prepare the ground for blocks of flats.
"Every developer, of course, wants to make profits . . . I don’t oppose to earning profits," said Antiquities Advisory Board chairman David Lung.
"But there is also a need to understand the history. Hong Kong is lacking such a culture."
The developers needed to change their priorities and understand the importance of preserving history, he added.
"You can repackage the selling point of having a relics nearby," Lung said.
"Why do they highlight having a swimming pool and clubs in the advertisements?
"I know they have profit, profit and profit in mind. But I would try my best to educate, educate and educate them."
Wu En, one of 12 mainland archaeological experts who came from Beijing to help excavate the Ma Wan site, said Chinese regulations provided much stricter protection for antiquities and relics and boosted awareness of preservation.
"It’s incomparable," said the deputy director of China’s Institute of Archaeology Chinese Academy of Social Science.
"The mainland government has very strict ordinances forbidding unscrupulous development over historical relics. Heavy punishment will be levied if irregularities are found."
AFP gp 09/11/97 21-13NZ
