SATUN – The Khao Khom cave located south of a limestone hill near the reservoir behind Satun College of Agriculture and Technology is now a prehistoric archaeological site from the Neolithic period, dating back some 3,000 to 6,000 years.
Panomboot Chantarachoti, Director General of the Fine Arts Department, announced on May 23 the results of an archaeological survey conducted after the discovery of human skeletal remains in Khao Khom Cave, Village No. 10, Khuan Kalhong Sub-district, Khuan Kalhong District, Satun Province. Office 11 of the Songkhla Fine Arts Department was commissioned to survey the site on May 16.
The research team found significant evidence, including human skeletal remains, pottery shards, animal bones, freshwater mussels and marine shells. According to initial investigations, Khao Khom is a prehistoric archaeological site from the Neolithic period, dating back some 3,000 to 6,000 years.
This analysis refers to the 2010 archaeological excavation of the Pa To Ro cave in Khuan Don district, Satun province, where prehistoric skeletons were found that have been scientifically dated to around 3,000 years ago.
Previous archaeological excavations have uncovered numerous prehistoric sites in Satun Province, indicating that it was a major settlement area in ancient Thailand. At least 46 archaeological sites have been identified and efforts are underway to compile and publicize a comprehensive list.
The Director General thanked the various institutions for their efforts to protect and develop cultural learning and tourism sites. This significant discovery will benefit future archaeological research and the academic development of the Fine Arts Department.
The inspection was initiated following a report from Mr. Kampol Sassadi, a speleologist and Forest Mountain Guard volunteer, who had repeatedly requested permission to explore Khao Khom Cave. He described Khao Khom as a large limestone hill with dense forest at the base of which is a cave known locally as Khao Khom Cave. The dry cave system stretches for about 500 meters and leads to a stream cave that extends to an unknown depth.
Evidence of early human occupation was found at the cave entrance, including Stone Age tools and human bone fragments (tibia bones, vertebrae and skull fragments, more than 10 in total) as well as an almost complete lower jaw.
Numerous shells were also found, suggesting that it may have been a burial site, as more and more human remains were found during further excavations, indicating the burial of at least 10 people.
Following the observations and collection of evidence by Mr. Sassadi and the team at Satun College of Agriculture and Technology, the findings were submitted to the Department of Fine Arts for formal academic validation.
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