Thai Archaeologists Make Major Discovery

[george]

Archaeologists make major discovery in Kanchanaburi

KANCHANABURI: -- A group of young Thai archaeologists has found traces of prehistoric life dating back 230-345 million years _ well before the time of the dinosaurs _ at a small limestone hill in Kanchanaburi province.

Team project adviser Kunatree Petchtaweedech said the site showed life dating back to between the Carboniferous and Permian ages. It is an area of 30,000 square metres and includes a 140-metre-high limestone hill near Ban Phu Phloo school in tambon Sing of Saiyok district, Kanchanaburi province.

The discovery by students from Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School will be entered at the International Expo Sciences ESI 2005 to be held in Santiago, Chile from July 4-8.

The fossils of ancient single-cell organisms were found in rocks scattered about the hill. Complete grains of fossilized wheat and rice were also discovered at the site _ these serve as index fossils of the late-Paleozoic age because that is when they became extinct.

The findings could also serve as a treasure map in oil exploration because foraminifera fossils, the origins of petroleum deposits, were found. If these were found at different layers of the earth, they could lead to the discovery of fossil fuels.

The ESI or Expo Science Exhibition is an annual showcase of the best of student scientific achievements. This year in Chile, it is a non-political event, intended to contribute to peace, respect and better knowledge of people around the world. It also promotes the ideals of co-operation and interchange between young scientists from 60 countries.

The students on the scientific team included Kantapon Suraprasit, Nujuta Klorwuthianant, Ornnalin Buranadunaporn and Pornpiya Vikitset.

Mrs Kunatree said Thailand should be proud to present their work at the event.

However, since travel costs to Santiago, and also to the nearby Galapagos islands for ecological study, were a heavy burden for the team, she hoped to find other sources of support for the students.

She said the school could provide no financial support for the team after the government required all state schools to slash their budgets by 25%.

--The Post 2005-06-04

[Boatabike]

Archaeologists make major discovery in Kanchanaburi

KANCHANABURI: -- A group of young Thai archaeologists has found traces of prehistoric life dating back 230-345 million years _ well before the time of the dinosaurs _ at a small limestone hill in Kanchanaburi province.

The fossils of ancient single-cell organisms were found in rocks scattered about the hill. Complete grains of fossilized wheat and rice were also discovered at the site _ these serve as index fossils of the late-Paleozoic age because that is when they became extinct.

--The Post 2005-06-04

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

National geographic have actually been out to the site and have confirmed that this amazing find is in fact the very first fossilized remains of the worlds first backpacker. Tourisim in Thailand was alive and well 230-345 million year ago!

[The_Moog]

traces of prehistoric life dating back 230-345 million years _ well before the time of the dinosaurs _ at a small limestone hill in Kanchanaburi province

Presumably overstayers as their visas are well out of date.

........I'm sorry, that was a pathetic line.

[chownah]

Are there any archaelogists out there who can tell us if this is in fact a real find or just some PR for some rich kids' science project? It is my understanding that finding really old fossils in limestone is a common occurance but I really don't know anything about it and I'm hoping someone can educate me.