IN 2008, Prof Dato' Dr. Mokhtar Saidin, the director of Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR), and his team began doing research in Guar Kepah to collect data for their book Early History of Penang – which was later published by USM.
As part of their research, CGAR conducted an excavation in 2010 to dig up further evidence at the archaeological site. The excavation discovered shell middens with ancient artefacts – this persuaded the Penang State Government to conserve the site. Through Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), the state government planned to create a gallery on-site in 2017, but a 5,710-year-old Neolithic skeleton named Penang Woman, discovered unexpectedly during the process changed the plans.
The discovery of this remarkably intact skeleton spurred another round of excavation from April to September 2017 to further unearth the bones and more artefacts in the shell midden where it was found.
