INGENIEUR
mystery is how it ended up in a domestic garden , and that ’ s where we ’ d like the public ’ s help .”
The rock garden in Whiteparish is part of a house built in the mid-1960s , and the auctioneers are hoping that someone might recall details or people involved with its construction .
“ There are several possibilities of where the stone might have originated ,” Hobbs said . English country houses known as Cowesfield House and Broxmore House were very close to Whiteparish and were demolished in 1949 after having been requisitioned by the [ British ] army during the war ,” he said . “ But we also know that the house at what is now [ family theme park ] Paultons Park was destroyed by fire in 1963 , and so possibly rubble from there was reused at building sites in the area shortly afterwards .”
Malaysia ’ s limestone hills and caves are time capsules of ancient history - THE STAR
In October 2020 , Malaysian scientists made a thrilling find : The fossilised tooth of an extinct elephant called a Stegodon , estimated to be between 30,000 and 80,000 years old , was unearthed in a limestone cave in Gopeng , Perak .
The news made the front pages of local newspapers and online news sites . It was an important discovery due to its rarity . The last big find was in 2014 in rural Pahang , where palaeontologists discovered the fossil of the fisheating Spinosauridae dinosaur , most likely from the Cretaceous period between 65 million and 145.5 million years ago .
( The Mesozoic , or Middle Life , era spanned from about 252 million to about 66 million years ago and comprised the Triassic , Jurassic and Cretaceous periods . It is best known as the era of dinosaurs .)
Why do scientists get excited about such ancient discoveries ? One of the most important reasons is that fossils carry messages about past changes in the planet ’ s environment .
Palaeontological Society of Malaysia president Lim Tze Tshen explains : “ Knowing how past fauna responded to environmental changes can better prepare us for any future environmental fluctuations .
“ The past is the key to the future .”
But like our present day natural environment , these time capsules of the past are under threat and we might lose them before we can learn any lessons from them .
For one thing , palaeontology – the study of the fossilised remains of plants and animals – lacks human resources and funding , says Lim , adding that it is an “ under-studied ” field in Malaysia .
“ So far , there are about 1,000 fossil teeth of mammals of various kinds that have been found in caves in Peninsular Malaysia ,” says the vertebrate palaeontologist and zoo archaeologist .
The number includes the fossilised remains of wild boar , deer , wild cattle , serow and rhinos . These are mostly from the Pleistocene epoch .
The Use of Historic Buildings in Regeneration - ( BPF , Deloitte , English Heritage , RICS )
What are the positive qualities and benefits that heritage assets can add to a regeneration scheme ? Clearly , this will depend on the nature of the properties involved , but all or some of the following may apply :
● Historic buildings create a focal point that people can relate to and are familiar with – giving a sense of place .
● They may be well loved local landmarks which the community identify with and will rally around to support or save .
● The fabric and design can add a distinctive identity to the new build part of a regeneration scheme – enhancing townscape and lifting the overall quality of the built environment .
● They may have interesting historical and cultural associations which can be interpreted and developed through the wider regeneration area .
● They can assist in achieving sustainable development objectives .
● They may attract tenants / occupiers who would not be interested in a less distinctive building .
● They feed people ’ s interest in the past .
48 VOL 85 JANUARY - MARCH 2021