Phetchaburi: Support is being given to Phra Nakhon Khiri for World Heritage status following the discovery of a 2,000-year-old ring inscribed with Brahmi script. Ms. Thivalarat Angkinan, MP for Phetchaburi from the Bhumjaithai Party and Chair of the House Committee on Religion, Arts and Culture, expressed her support for the nomination and the establishment of the first central museum in Phetchaburi.
According to Thai News Agency, the recent progress at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Ban Lat District, Phetchaburi Province, has been significant. Ms. Thivalarat revealed that an archaeological team unearthed two additional gold rings, including a signet ring with Brahmi inscriptions dating back approximately 1,900-2,100 years. Earlier discoveries by villagers included a large bronze drum, which led to further excavations uncovering five bronze drums, eight ancient human skeletons, and a possible ninth child's skeleton.
The artifacts found, such as bracelets, gold rings, bronze vessels, and ancient beads, mark the site as the first in Thailand to yield such a wealth of archaeological finds. The team is seeking funding from the Fine Arts Department to continue their excavation and study efforts.
Ms. Thivalarat emphasized the urgency of moving the skeletons due to the rainy season, with plans to temporarily store them at a museum in Pathum Thani province. Once the rainy season concludes, the artifacts will be exhibited in Phetchaburi province and nearby areas for public viewing.
"As a native of Phetchaburi province and the chairperson of the Religious Affairs Committee, I believe Phetchaburi has a wealth of historical and cultural heritage, but there is no central provincial museum," Ms. Thivalarat stated. She highlighted the limitations of the existing museum at Phra Nakhon Khiri and urged the Fine Arts Department to support the establishment of a more accessible facility.
The Director-General of the Fine Arts Department is actively working towards registering Phra Nakhon Khiri as a World Heritage Site. A working group, led by the provincial governor, is examining the impact of World Heritage status on the annual Phra Nakhon Khiri Festival, which draws tens of thousands of participants. The province hopes for financial support to aid in the site's restoration and improvement.
The chairman of the Committee on Religion, etc., also anticipates that Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chiang Mai provinces will attain World Heritage status by the end of the year. He encourages all provinces with potential heritage sites to connect with the committee to promote Thailand's cultural heritage on an international scale and enhance tourism.