A Meteorite Once Struck Lenggong
A meteoroid is a solid object moving in interplanetary space. It is smaller than an asteroid and larger than an atom or molecule.
When it enters a planet's atmosphere, a meteoroid heats up and vaporizes partially or entirely. The gases along its path become ionized and glow, and this trail of glowing gas is called a meteor or shooting star. If a portion of this meteoroid reaches the ground, it is called a meteorite. We at orangperak.com hope you are clear with the brief explanation in the paragraph above regarding the difference between a Meteoroid and a Meteorite. Returning to the original topic of this article regarding the meteorite that once struck Lenggong, this is not a recent event. The story is known to those interested in astronomy, and Lenggong is actually very popular in terms of research regarding early human settlements in Western countries, compared to the reception within our own country.
It is said that a meteorite once fell and struck the land of Perak in Lenggong some time ago, approximately 1.83 million years ago. Believe it or not? Archaeological research by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) found that a meteorite once crashed into Bukit Bunuh in Lenggong, Perak, approximately 1.83 million years ago. This follows the discovery of suevite rock in the area, making Bukit Bunuh one of 28 meteorite impact sites in the world that contains such rock, out of a total of 896 meteorite impact sites globally.
Research has also found evidence that the destruction of the early Paleolithic culture there was caused by a meteorite impact from outer space, with evidence identified through geomorphological effects, the presence of suevite rock, and its geological form.
The Vice-Chancellor of USM at the time, Prof Datuk Omar Osman, said the study places Bukit Bunuh as the only oldest meteorite impact site in the world located outside of Africa that has chronometric dating. This has further strengthened the prehistoric evidence in the Lenggong Valley and made it an important archaeological valley for the world. Should we, as the people of Perak, be proud of this? It is appropriate because it did not happen in any other location, and we should appreciate and support all efforts made to make Lenggong an attractive tourist destination in Malaysia and in the eyes of the world.
The event that occurred approximately 1.83 million years ago is actually, indirectly, a contribution to the state of Perak, the country, and the world for the study of early prehistoric human life on Earth today. The Lenggong area holds many secrets and the history of early human life, so let us all travel and vacation in Lenggong!
