Hulu Terengganu - Archaeologists have stumbled upon human skeletal remains believed to be from the Mesolithic Age in the Bewah Cave in the Kenyir Lake area, according to a university professor.

The remains, believed to be those of a youth, are estimated to be between 8,000 and 11,000 years old, said Prof Datuk Dr Nik Hasan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman, deputy director of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

The remains were uncovered by archaeologists from UKM, the Museums Department and the Terengganu Museum Board at a depth of 65 to 70 centimetres, he told reporters after a visit by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said and reporters to the cave on Saturday.

DNA samples from the remains had been sent to the United States for analysis, he said, adding that the results were expected next month at the latest.

The find was the second in the Kenyir Lake area, the first one being in the Batu Tok Bidan Cave in 1975, he said.

Dr Nik Hasan Shuhaimi, who is heading the team of archaeologists excavating at the site, said pieces of pottery believed to date back to the Neolithic Age were also found there.

"Among the pieces of pottery are some bearing what resembles rock painting which researchers have dug up at sites of the Neolithic Age elsewhere in the country," he said.

Menteri Besar Ahmad said the state government would carry on with excavation to find other historical artefacts.

He said the artefacts found at the Bewah Cave would be framed in glass and kept for public viewing at the site, and not in a museum, in a move to draw more visitors to Kenyir Lake.

He also said that the cave would be closed to the public temporarily from Saturday to enable the excavation to go on.

Ahmad said plans were also ongoing to set up bird and butterfly islands and an orchid garden to promote Kenyir Lake.

"The Bird Island, which has more than 40 species, is expected to be opened to the public in April. The Orchid Garden, with wild orchids, is expected to be opened in six months and the Butterfly Island will be opened later," he said.