1-6-2024 (BANGKOK) In a remarkable archaeological discovery, two human skeletons dating back at least 1,500 years have been unearthed in Muang district, shedding new light on an ancient settlement that once thrived in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima. The remarkable find was made by workers during landscaping efforts around the old eastern moat along Assadang Road in the heart of the municipality.
The area, formerly housing an environment and pollution control office, was being developed into a public park when construction was temporarily halted after workers stumbled upon traces of relics. Experts initially speculated that these preliminary finds could lead to more historical artifacts buried in the vicinity, potentially belonging to the Ayutthaya period from 1351 to 1767.
Excavation work commenced at a depth of 1.3 metres, but no remnants from the Ayutthaya era were uncovered, according to Wannapong Palakawong Na Ayutthaya, an archaeologist attached to the Fine Arts Office 1 stationed in the province.
However, a further dig revealed a remarkable discovery – two human skeletons lying approximately 1.5 metres apart, accompanied by terra cotta utensils and animal bones.
Wannapong affirmed that the skeletons serve as irrefutable evidence confirming Nakhon Ratchasima’s status as an ancient human settlement site dating back at least 1,500 years.
Historically, the province has been closely associated with King Narai the Great, who reigned over the Ayutthaya kingdom from 1656 to 1688. However, the latest discovery suggests that Nakhon Ratchasima’s origins predate the Ayutthaya period by a significant margin.
“It is possible that the ancient settlement in the municipality may be connected to those that existed around the Phanom Won historical sanctuary, also in Muang district, and in Non Sung and Non Thai districts located further away,” Wannapong speculated.
The unearthing of these ancient skeletons has sparked excitement among archaeologists and historians alike, as it provides a tantalizing glimpse into the rich and complex history of human settlements in the region. Further excavations and analyses are anticipated to unravel more secrets about the lives and culture of Nakhon Ratchasima’s prehistoric inhabitants.
