THE LONG HISTORY and practice of archaeology in Malaysia—spanning over 180 years—began from the colonial era in the mid-19th century. This period of antiquarian interest (1840– 1900) saw British amateurs undertaking random explorations and reconnaissance in search of history and antiquities. In Peninsular Malaysia, the first-known archaeological dig was undertaken by G.W. Earl in 1860 at Guar Kepah in Seberang Prai (formerly Province Wellesley), where he discovered a shell mound containing many human burials. In Sarawak, between 1873 and 1878,...