Archaeologists in Thailand found the oldest human skeleton ever found in the country—a 29,000-year-old child affectionately nicknamed Pangpond after a beloved Thai cartoon character. The announcement of the archaeological find was made at a news conference held by the Thai government's Fine Arts Department and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
"This is a groundbreaking discovery that will reshape our understanding of early human presence in Southeast Asia," said Phnombootra Chandrajoti, director general of Thailand's Fine Arts Department, according to Knewz.com.
The skeleton was discovered inside Din Cave, located within the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, a site renowned for its prehistoric rock art. Buried approximately two meters beneath the cave floor, Pangpond is believed to have been between six and eight years old at the time of death, having undergone a ritualistic burial.
The body was found lying on its back with arms and legs close to the body, suggesting that the child may have been wrapped or tied before burial. "The body was carefully placed and surrounded by stones, indicating a level of respect and care in the burial process," said an archaeologist from the Fine Arts Department, according to Knewz.com.
Charcoal and ashes found near the burial site suggest that a fire was lit during the burial process, potentially to smoke the body and deter wild animals, as well as to mask decomposition odors. Researchers suggest that the fire might have served multiple purposes during the burial, indicating a relationship between the living and the dead, where fire could symbolize a form of purification or transition to the afterlife.
Red ochre paintings adorn the walls and ceilings of the cave, depicting humans hunting animals such as deer and monkeys with bows and arrows, providing further evidence of human activity in the area. Some theories suggest that the paintings in Tham Din Cave could have been related to the burial ritual. Researchers are exploring whether the hunting scenes and human figures depicted in the red ochre paintings are directly connected to the burial ritual or if they served another function.
This discovery has pushed back the timeline of human presence in the region, providing new insights into the cultural practices of prehistoric hunter-gatherers, particularly regarding burial methods and associated artifacts. Pangpond is the oldest human skeleton ever discovered in Thailand, contributing to our understanding of human evolution in the region.
Radiocarbon dating indicates that the child lived approximately 29,000 years ago, during the late Pleistocene epoch. Pangpond lived during a time when much of Southeast Asia was connected by a landmass known as Sundaland, which was exposed due to lower sea levels, facilitating the dispersal of populations across the region.
Further excavations at the Tham Din site have revealed artifacts, including animal bones, pottery, seeds, and seashells, indicating prolonged human occupation and activity. Radiocarbon dating of nearby organic materials suggests that humans occupied the cave between 29,000 and 11,000 years ago.
The Tham Din site first attracted scholarly attention in 1996 due to its ancient rock paintings. Archaeologists have been studying the site since 2020, focusing on the prehistoric red ochre paintings on the cave walls. In 2022, further interest in the site was sparked by the discovery of Pangpond's skeleton.
The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation plans to protect the Tham Din archaeological site and eventually open it to the public for tourism and educational purposes. Plans are being designed to develop a tourist route at the site, which could attract visitors interested in discovering the wonders of this archaeological heritage while supporting preservation efforts.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
