The Guagoba Archaeological Site Exhibition Hall is expected to open in July

(Nibong Tebal, 23rd) The archaeological exhibition hall of Guar Kepah, a Neolithic site in Seberang Perai with a history of more than 5,000 years, is expected to be officially launched in July; and the 41 sets of human skeleton fragments collected in Leiden, the Netherlands, will be shipped back to the country in June, and will be exhibited together with the "Penang Woman" unearthed in 2017 as one of the highlights of the opening.

Mohammad Harris, CEO of the Northern Corridor Economic Agency (NCIA), pointed out that the archaeological site exhibition hall was fully completed last year and officially handed over to the Penang Chief Minister's Office (CMI) for subsequent management and operation.

According to the "Kuang Ming Daily", he said in an interview at the agency's goodwill event a few days ago that the official opening ceremony is expected to be presided over by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself. "But if there is a change, it may be presided over by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow."

"Penang Women" will be the main exhibit of the exhibition hall. 

The shell mound site once unearthed a complete prehistoric human skeleton that shocked the archaeological world—the "Penang Woman."

Earlier, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee Chairman Wong Hon Wai pointed out that the Penang Chief Minister's Office took the initiative on behalf of the state government and cooperated with the central government through the National Heritage Board, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the repatriation of 41 sets of human skeleton fragments stored in Leiden, the Netherlands.

He said that considering the important cultural value of these cultural relics to Malaysia, especially Penang, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has agreed to return them to the Malaysian government.

The Guakoba Archaeological Site Exhibition Hall is a two-story building that adopts the concept of "archaeology-education-tourism", covering interactive exhibition halls, seminar halls, shell mound sites, administrative offices, prayer rooms and toilets.

One of the most important discoveries at the Guakoba Archaeological Site is the "Penang Woman", a prehistoric female skeleton unearthed in 2017, which is more than 5,000 years old. It will become the main exhibit of the exhibition hall.