Chonburi: The House Committee on Religion, Ethics, and Social Studies is accelerating efforts to revitalize "Kok Phanom Dee," a 3,600-year-old sacred site, paving the way for local authorities to take full responsibility for its management.
According to Thai News Agency, the committee recently visited the Khok Phanom Di archaeological site in Tha Kham Subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom District, Chonburi Province. The visit was aimed at finalizing plans to transfer the museum building to the Provincial Administrative Organization for management and allocate funds for restoration, with the objective of preserving the 4,000-year-old prehistoric heritage for future generations.
Ms. Thivalrarat Angkinan, Member of Parliament for Phetchaburi and Chair of the House Committee on Religion, Arts and Culture, led the delegation, which included Mr. Anan Preedasutthijit, Member of Parliament for Chonburi; Mr. Pongthasit Pijanan, Deputy Governor of Chonburi Province; the District Chief of Phanat Nikhom; representatives from the Fine Arts Department; members of the clergy; and local residents. They discussed management approaches for the museum to ensure the continuous preservation of this important historical site.
The meeting reached a key conclusion: the Fine Arts Department will register the museum building as state property with the Treasury Department before returning it to the Treasury Department. This will allow the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization to apply for the use and maintenance of the building according to established procedures.
Simultaneously, documents will be prepared for the transfer of assets and responsibilities to the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), enabling the local authority to take over management, including budget allocation for the restoration, maintenance, and continuous upkeep of the museum. Previously, management was hampered by limitations in terms of authority, responsibilities, and assets.
Ms. Thivalarat emphasized that the committee will expedite coordination and follow up on every step with relevant agencies to ensure that the transfer of the museum building yields tangible results as soon as possible. She highlighted that Khok Phanom Di is not just a community historical site, but a valuable national historical artifact that should be preserved as a learning resource for the public and future generations.
The Khok Phanom Di archaeological site is characterized by a large earthen mound in a lowland rice paddy area, with a diameter of approximately 230 meters and rising about 12 meters above the surrounding land. Covering approximately 25 rai (about 9.9 acres), it was registered as an archaeological site in 1984. Evidence suggests that the area was once a Neolithic community dating back approximately 4,000-3,500 years ago, transitioning from a resource-based subsistence to a more agricultural society.
A major excavation in 1984-1985, in collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts of Thailand and the University of Otago, New Zealand, uncovered more than 150 human burial sites, along with polished stone axes, bone tools, pottery, shell ornaments, and numerous marine animal remains. Notably, the remains of "Chao Mae Khok Phanom Dee," a female skeleton estimated to be around 35 years old and approximately 3,600 years old, were discovered, buried with a large collection of ornaments and tools, suggesting her significance in pottery making and community standing.
The findings at Khok Phanom Di offer valuable insights into the lives of people in eastern Thailand thousands of years ago, including their diet, fishing, pottery production, burial rituals, and social structures. This archaeological site serves as an important 'window through history' that deserves serious preservation.