Prehistoric Period in the Khao Sam Roi Yot Area New Evidence from Archaeological Operations

Abstract

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, located along the western coastline of the Gulf of Thailand in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, encompasses Sam Roi Yot and Kui Buri districts. In 1996, prehistoric rock paintings were first discovered by a British cave researcher. This led the Fine Arts Department, Office 1 in Ratchaburi, to conduct studies and publish the findings in 2004 under the title "Cave Art of Khao Sam Roi Yot". In 2017, another significant rock painting site was discovered at Ban Hub Ta Khot, within the park area. This prompted a comprehensive archaeological survey project in the 2020 fiscal year.

As a result, evidence of prehistoric human habitation and eight new rock painting sites were identified. From 2022 to the present, archaeological excavations have been carried out at the Tham Din rock painting site, one of the newly discovered sites. These excavations uncovered substantial evidence of prehistoric human activities, including habitation and burial practices. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the site was occupied approximately 34,000–11,000 years ago, corresponding to the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene periods.

These findings represent a significant shift in the understanding of prehistoric human settlement and environmental conditions in Western Thailand and contribute important new data to the broader prehistoric context of Southeast Asia. The discoveries underline the cultural richness and long-standing human presence in the region, warranting further interdisciplinary research and conservation efforts.