Ancient artefacts found in Surat Thani caves
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A large number of artefacts have been discovered in three caves of Surat Thani's Khiri Ratthanikhom district and the Fine Arts Department's initial inspection estimated they were 4,000-12,000 years old.
Teacher Tossanart Suksawat of Ban Tha Khlai School and local residents yesterday took a Nation Multimedia Group reporter to inspect a large number of artefacts at the Khao
Rahu caves in tambon Yan Yao. The items found were mostly tools and weapons made of stone, many fossils and animal bones, broken earthenware and some stone sculptures.
Tossanart who owned the property in the area said locals, collecting bat guano for fertiliser at the caves, reportedly encountered inexplicable incidents so he inspected the cave and found the items.
Tossanart alerted the Fine Arts Office 14 in Nakhon Si Thammarat. A five-strong team was sent to inspect them.
He said the officials opined that the tools were 9,000-12,000 years old while the rope-patterned earthenware were 4,000-5,000 years old. It is believed ancient people had resided in this area as many
artefacts had been found in and around the district.
In related news, an informed source reported that Krabi’s Ao Luek district chief Boonpas Raknui had urged local leaders to protect Nora Cave in tambon Ban Klang after three of the
recently discovered 3,000-year-old cave drawings were destroyed. The place was pending the Fine Arts Department’s registration as an ancient site.
