The Fine Arts Department, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, has announced a significant archaeological discovery: a prehistoric human skeleton and cave paintings at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan.

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 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 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.

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. Moreover, this area will be developed into a natural and educational tourism route in the future.