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The Fine Arts Department of Thailand announced the discovery of an ancient skeleton that can "rewrite the history" of human settlement in the region, according to archaeologists.
Knewz.com has learned that the ancient skeleton was uncovered inside a remote Thai cave in the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.
According to reports, the skeletal remains belong to a child and have been deemed the oldest skeleton ever discovered in Thailand.
The Fine Arts Department announced that the skeletal remains have been named "Pangpond" after a beloved Thai cartoon character, and are estimated to be 29,000 years old, placing the skeleton within the late Pleistocene period.
"Currently, geologists and speleologists are working alongside the Fine Arts Department to study soil layers and conduct further age analysis. Ongoing research will continue to provide deeper insights into this significant find," the announcement from the department read.
"This discovery is regarded as a groundbreaking archaeological find in Thailand and a new piece of evidence for the world’s paleontologists to examine," the announcement, which was posted on Facebook, added.
The excavation project that led to the discovery of the ancient skeleton began in 2020 in the Din Cave, a site already famous for its prehistoric rock art.
"The excavation began after cave paintings were discovered on the cave walls in 2020. Researchers started excavating near the cave wall, where they found various artifacts, including axes, seashells, animal bones, and plant seeds, indicating the existence of prehistoric humans," the post by the Fine Arts Department read.
"The team then excavated two meters deeper, ultimately uncovering a human skeleton. Based on the dental analysis, the skeleton is believed to belong to a child aged 6-8 years, although their gender could not be determined."
"The skeleton was named "Pangpond" and was sent to a scientific laboratory in the United States for age determination. The results confirmed that the remains were approximately 29,000 years old, aligning with the Ice Age period," the announcement added.
It has been reported that this discovery can potentially rewrite the understanding of human history in Thailand, and push back the timeline of human occupation in the region by tens of thousands of years.
Phnombootra Chandrajoti, the Director General of the Fine Arts Department said in a statement:
"This is a groundbreaking discovery that will reshape our understanding of early human presence in Southeast Asia... The careful burial and the associated artifacts provide invaluable insights into the rituals and daily lives of these ancient inhabitants."
An archaeologist from the Fine Arts Department explained that the "body was carefully placed and surrounded by stones, indicating a level of respect and care in the burial process."
"The positioning of the limbs, with the toes touching, suggests the body may have been wrapped or tied before burial," the FAD archaeologist further stated.
It has been further reported that the skeleton "was found buried in a supine position, with the head oriented southwest, suggesting a deliberate and ritualistic burial."