Rock paintings and rock - engravings in Thailand

Abstract

The first discovery of rock - paintings was reported in the Bulletin de la Commission Archaeologique de l'Indochine, 1922, by M.L. de Lajoquiere. In his article, "Essai d'Inventaire Archaeologique du Siam', he told us about three rock - painting sites which were found at Panga Bay in peninsular Thailand. In 1924 Mr. A.F. G. Kerr reported that rock paintings were discovered in Mukdaharn District, Nakhon Phanom, a province in north - eastern Thailand. Thirty-eight years later (i.e. in February, 1962) the first Thai - Danish Prehistoric Expedition found rock paintings at Tham Rup Cave on Khieo Hill in Kancha- naburi Province. This was followed by the discoveries of rock - paintings and rock engravings made by archaeologists of the Fine Arts Department and members of the Fine Arts Department - University of Hawaii Expedition. First, let us turn to the north - eastern region. The first site is Mu - Daeng Cave. It is on Chomnang Hill in Ban Sompoi, Sri Bunruang Village, Mukhdaharn District, Nakhon Phanom. In 1922 Mr. Kerr saw on the cave walls 10 hands and 6 human figures. The former were painted in red and grey and the latter are each 30 cms. in height. In 1962 Mr. Chalern Palatecha of the 7th. Fine Arts Branch visited the place. We learn from his report that only six hands were still visible. Four of them were painted and the other two were stencilled. All of them represented left hands. It was again Mr. Chalern Palatecha who visited other rock painting sites in north-eastern Thailand.