“Ancient Man” 13,000 Years Old on Thai Land! Who Are the Tham Lot Women? | Arts & Culture

“Women of Tham Lod”A 13,000-year-old replica of an ancient human face found in Thailand. Significant evidence of human settlement at the end of the Ice Age was built from a female human skeleton discovered at the Tham Lod archaeological site, Bang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son Province.

A replica of this face was published in an article in the journal World Archaeology. ancient timesSince 2017, this has been a cause for excitement in academic and archaeological circles in Thailand and beyond. Because along with the hobbits in Indonesia, the Tham Lod women are another ancient human in Southeast Asia whose faces have been reconstructed through research and the use of advanced technology. To get a face as close to the time when they were alive as possible

The title of the article is Late Ice Age woman from Tham Lod, Thailand: Today's influence on a face of the past or “Late Pleistocene Women from Tham Lod, Thailand: Modern Faces of Past Influences.” Among the researchers: Dr. Susan Hayes, Associate Professor Dr. Rasamee Chosongdet, Natamon Vorepatpong, Professor Sanjay Saengwechian and Dr. Kanuknath Jintakkanon, DDS.

Simply put, Thai archaeologists played an important role in the study and publication of this article.

Discoveries at Tham Lot

The Tham Lod Lady is an ancient human skeleton that was excavated from the Tham Lod shelter in 2003. It is considered the oldest ever discovered. When carbon dating was done, it was found to be approximately 13,640 years old, which corresponds to the end of the Ice Age (Late Pleistocene).

Studies have shown that the skeleton was about 5 feet or 150 cm tall and the width of her pelvis confirms that she was definitely female and that she was 25-35 years old when she died, which is considered middle age for a woman. What about humans at that time?

The cause of her death remains a mystery, but according to custom, her remains were deliberately buried. They were not left to decompose naturally without care.

The skeleton was buried underground. There were not many traces of ritual. In a shallow pit it was placed in a bent position facing the cliff shelter, various parts completely crushed by past activities and surroundings. Bones of animals presumed to be sacrificial or offerings were found along with broken stone tools. A large stone was placed on the body and can be analyzed as a symbol indicating the burial place. Or to prevent animals from digging up and disturbing or eating the remains of the grave.

After the important discovery, Ajarn Rasammi, professor of the Faculty of Archaeology at Silpakorn University, contacted Dr. Susan, an expert in reproducing ancient human faces. To create a facial shape from the skeleton, Dr. Susan studied and created the face using 2D drawing, adding texture to the skull surface using data from 720 human skulls from the same period from 25 countries around the world.

Meanwhile, Ajarn Rasami also used information from Nathamoun and the excavation team who helped analyze it through a computer program. Create a 3D model and send it to a sculptor to create a floating statue. By casting in resin

This is the original face model. There are some differences in my version of “Women of Tham Lod”. But many parts are the same. It reflects that the data used in the analysis and design is accurate to a certain level.

“Tham Lot Women” ancestors of the Thai people?

Are ancient human skeletons the ancestors of the Thai people? The answer is “I don't know.”

Because all the information about the Tham Lod woman is still not strong enough to confirm that she is really of Thai origin.

Ajarn Rasami pointed out that the simulated image gives us an idea of ​​the physical characteristics of this woman. Is she an ancestor of humans like us? rational human(Homo sapiens) certainly has a high-cheeked face. Almond-shaped eyes, brown skin, and Asian-black-brown hair.

Dr. Susan (Susan Hayes) commented that this woman resembles a contemporary person from Southeast Asia. It may include East Asia and Africa. However, the lineage to which the ancestors belong should not be specified.

All we can say is that this was the face of a woman at the end of the Ice Age. Which lived only in Southeast Asia in the area of ​​Thailand

Back to the topic of burial patterns. It has been analyzed that the bent position of the corpse was used to reflect the position of the child in the mother's womb. It reflects the new birth (in the next world), but there is no evidence to confirm the existence of such beliefs at that time and perhaps the position of the corpse in this way was due to the body being carried on a crossbeam to be buried. The hands and feet had to be tied to insert the crossbeam. That is why ancient human corpses were buried in this position. That is, the body is bent because the hands and feet are tied together.

However, the study of the human skeleton at Tham Lod and the new knowledge that has followed is an important part of understanding the physical and social development of people in Southeast Asia. Including understanding the history of the “people” before they became “Thai people”.

But don't forget that your face The Tham Lod women should not be defined as representing Thai women of the past. As they represent a people from 13,000 years ago, in the highlands that now form the Thai-Burmese border, it is more appropriate to describe them that way.

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Refers to:

Bipat Karajachan, Matthysson Daily. A global work, a replica of the face of a Thai (?) ancestor at the end of the Ice Age, 13 thousand years ago. Date: April 20, 2017.

Weeraphong Sunthornchatrawat, National Geographic Thai Edition, November 2021. Archaeology in Bang Mapha reveals secrets from ancient times. Bangkok: Amarin.

Thai PBS. The first appearance of Thai ancestors dates back to the late Ice Age, 13,000 years ago. January 30, 2018. From https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/269779

Susan Hayes, Rasmi Chokongdj, Natamon Buripatpong, Sanjay Sangvichen
And Kanoknaart Shintakanon. A Late Pleistocene woman from Tham Lod, Thailand: Today's influence on a face of the past. Cambridge University Press. April 4, 2017. (connected)

It was first published online on August 17, 2024.

Read the original news at: “Ancient Man” 13,000 Years Old on Thai Land! Who Are the Tham Lot Women?

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