Thai farmers unearth 2.5 million Baht in gold under orchard

[JohnThailandJohn]

The Department of Fine Arts should have been called in immediately to cordon the entire orchard off and confiscate any items found so far to be examined. This could well be something more significant than Japanese loot from WW2. And even if it is, it could still be of historical importance and the pieces would deserve to be exhibited instead of being pawned for some cheap rice whisky and a new motorcycle. In the end, the owner of the plantation should be fairly compensated for the find - and if he then still wants to share his new-found wealth with hundreds of his neighbors, so be it.

But it is actions like this by legions of money-hungry people (or should I say 'looters'?) that cause countless historical artifacts all over the world to be destroyed forever.

on too many levels to reply more

[sumtingwong]

Would single malt scotch be more to your liking?

[surangw]

"Mr. Rawee said he has not barred neighbours from digging up the gold because he sees the gold rush as "a way to distribute wealth" among the local community."

or a good way to get his land cultivated

[Evilbaz]

This gold could be quite valuable.

There were Japanese in the South of Thailand centuries ago.

I believe Nakhon Si Thammarat actually had a Japanese governor at one stage.

I hope they don't sell it to the local Chinese lady at a discount to weight price (not being Thai gold).

[wealth]

good luck to them and hope they can enjoy it to the fullest ...

[riclag]

Now that make sense! Checking the goldrushers for helmults wasn't lucrative enough !

was talking to my Thai wife about this in which she already heard the story..she told me in her broken English that certain gov't personel have basically blocked off the land from everyone including the owner and gave him some BS about having rights to whatever gold is left and then must return it to the Japanese....

TIT!

[surangw]

Now that make sense! Checking the goldrushers for helmults wasn't lucrative enough !

was talking to my Thai wife about this in which she already heard the story..she told me in her broken English that certain gov't personel have basically blocked off the land from everyone including the owner and gave him some BS about having rights to whatever gold is left and then must return it to the Japanese....

TIT!

"t certain gov't personel" who are about to become rich once the locate a good metal detection set.

[Basil B]

The woman just behind him, in the pink shirt, doesn't seem to think this was the best course of action.

She must be his wife.

[Skint]

"Mr. Rawee said he has not barred neighbours from digging up the gold because he sees the gold rush as "a way to distribute wealth" among the local community."

or a good way to get his land cultivated

I'd rather have the gold and pay someone 2k to do it after

[Tokay]

Only a complete idiot would let the press or anyone know about such a thing. He'll lose this just as fast as he found it.

[heybruce]

So that's where I left it, I've been looking everywhere! Hey guys, do you mind sending the gold to me? I'll pay the postage.

[retsdon]

Mr. Rawee said he has not barred neighbours from digging up the gold because he sees the gold rush as "a way to distribute wealth" among the local community.

Wonderful, just wonderful.

[retsdon]

Maybe he needed his fields plowed and figured out this method was cheaper?

Or maybe he feels he has enough for his needs and is happy for the neighbours that he works alongside and grew up with to share his good fortune? At the end of the day, wealth is no substitute for friendship.

[crusader79]

Joseph Smith got his start in the same way.

[webfact]

Locals asked to refrain from gold digging
Kanya Khamnurak
The Nation, Phatthalung

BANGKOK: -- The Fine Arts Department has asked people to stop digging for gold on a plot of land where giant gold sheets, very likely from ancient times, were discovered earlier this week.

Locals, however, continued to look for gold at the plot yesterday.

Arnat Bamrungwong, who heads the Fine Arts Office 14, said the gold sheets found at a palm plantation in Khao Chaison district were of a similar size of those used to adorn the Phra Borommathat Chedi -- a historical site and sacred religious structure in the province.

"We wish to cordon off the area for experts to conduct proper explorations and excavations," he said.

He said the historical significance of the items could be worth much more than any financial value.

Supakorn Chuaiporm, 32, said he had found several gold sheets on Tuesday and each could fetch more than Bt40,000.

"I hope I can find some more," he said as he continued digging.

Several local villagers were also seen looking for gold at the plot. No one was willing to divulge whether they discovered gold yesterday.

However, word spread that at least two gold pieces were obtained from the plot yesterday.


-- The Nation 2014-05-29

[millwall_fan]

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Kudos to the guy.

But I'd have held the information back until I had parlayed the gold into a couple of metal detectors and searched my whole property a few times over.

Then I'd have allowed the 500 others to have a look.

I'm selfish like that.

Only a complete idiot would let the press or anyone know about such a thing. He'll lose this just as fast as he found it.

I would have let my neighbours grab a few pieces each, but I certainly couldn't have told anyone from the state about the find. If anyone believes that the super-clean anti corrupt military dictatorship wouldn't like to get their hands on some easy money, they are deluding themselves. I bet some officials from the 'fine arts dept' are salivating as we speak as well.

[ezzra]

This find is much, much better:

A TREASURE trove of rare gold coins that were discovered by a California couple out walking their dog last year are set to go on sale.

The nearly 1,430 coins date from 1847 to 1894 and have been valued at more than $11 million. One will be auctioned at the Old San Francisco Mint on Tuesday at 8:30pm. Most of the rest will go on sale on Amazon.com and Kagins.com later in the evening. Here are five things to know about the coins and their origin:

http://www.news.com.au/finance/money/california-couples-buried-gold-coins-to-go-on-sale-valued-at-11-million/story-fnagkbpv-1226934406935

[pancakeman]

Maybe he needed his fields plowed and figured out this method was cheaper?

Or maybe he feels he has enough for his needs and is happy for the neighbours that he works alongside and grew up with to share his good fortune? At the end of the day, wealth is no substitute for friendship.

Just going to be a shame once they start pulling up his trees/crops to look underneath

[impulse]

BANGKOK: -- The Fine Arts Department has asked people to stop digging for gold on a plot of land where giant gold sheets, very likely from ancient times, were discovered earlier this week.

Several local villagers were also seen looking for gold at the plot. No one was willing to divulge whether they discovered gold yesterday.

Plot twist, and then reality sets in.

Maybe it wasn't Japanese. Or maybe calling it "ancient" puts it into different pockets?

Could get interesting. If I were selling household gold smelters, I know where I'd be making a sales call. Shame really, because it could be a significant historical find.

[mickjn]

Good luck to him and his family

[johnh869]

Sounds like Sutter's Mill.....

[pitchag]

I wonder if they supplied the BIB with shovels to guard his orchard

[pitchag]

what a great idea to get your ground ready for planting

[BrooklynNY]

I read on Thai news report that if any one surrenders those gold plates they will be given 1/3 of the its actual value. Also the department of artifact asked for military assistance to keep people off the land not to let any one dig for gold any more because those gold are considered national artifact treasure. The department will send search team to search for treasure themselves.

[kotsak]

Locals asked to refrain from gold digging

Does this apply to female gold diggers as well?

[fabphil]

Can i look with my detector...

[GuyL]

I would like to report that we too have just found gold on our land.

It's about ten rai, the ground is rock hard and our tractor's broken down. Don't forget to bring your own spade.

While reading this news report, I too was thinking about this variant of a well-known joke:

An old Arab lived close to New York City for more than 40 years. He would have loved to plant potatoes in his garden, but he is alone, old and weak. His son is in college in Paris, so the old man sends him an e-mail. He explains the problem: "Beloved son, I am very sad, because I can't plant potatoes in my garden. I am sure, if only you were here, you would help and dig up the garden for me. I love you, Your Father."

The following day, the old man receives a response e-mail from his son: "Beloved Father, please don't touch the garden. It's there that I have hidden 'the THING'. I love you, too, Ahmed"

At 4pm the US Army, The Marines, the FBI, the CIA and the Rangers visit the house of the old man, take the whole garden apart, search every inch, but can't find anything. Disappointed they leave the house.

A day later, the old man receives another e-mail from his son. "Beloved Father, I hope the garden is dug up by now and you can plant your potatoes. That's all I could do for you from here. I love you, Ahmed."

[soalbundy]

was talking to my Thai wife about this in which she already heard the story..she told me in her broken English that certain gov't personel have basically blocked off the land from everyone including the owner and gave him some BS about having rights to whatever gold is left and then must return it to the Japanese....

TIT!

My experience is never ever believe anything that a Thai tells you. The things that my wife misinterprets from the news is astounding,half listened to and then embellished beyond all recognition,often even the country where a certain incident has taken place is wrong.

[TallPalm]

I would have kept the whole lot for myself, no one has given me shit in my life so why would I share it!

[randyoon]

Kudos to the guy.

But I'd have held the information back until I had parlayed the gold into a couple of metal detectors and searched my whole property a few times over.

Then I'd have allowed the 500 others to have a look.

I'm selfish like that.

Then I would have told them that they have to plant a plam tree shoot in every hole they dig. Sit back and drink a cold Singha while all the work gets done.