Archaeologists Unearth 2,000-Year-Old Gold Rings in Western Thailand
Two ancient gold rings, dating back around 2,000 years, were discovered during an excavation at a new archaeological site in western Thailand. The rings were found with human bones at the Don Yai Thong site in Phetchaburi province.
One of the rings was engraved with characters believed to be Bhrami script, an ancient Indian writing system. Experts identified the script as “pusarakhitasa,” meaning “the one protected by Pushya,” a highly auspicious zodiac sign in Indian astronomy.
The other ring is plain gold without any pattern. Experts believe its owner may have been a merchant from the Vaishyas caste of the ancient Indian social hierarchy.
The Don Yai Thong site, located about 80 miles southwest of Bangkok, was discovered earlier this year after residents found pieces of ancient bronze drums in a rice field. The site is dated to the late prehistoric era in Thailand, known as the Iron Age, established around 1,500 to 2,500 years ago.
Since February, archaeologists have unearthed eight human skeletons, bronze and gold jewelry, pottery, and other artifacts indicating wealthy people or members of the society’s upper classes were buried ceremonially. One skeleton is believed to be that of a young child, with a bronze object placed on its torso. Charcoal samples from the excavation site are being sent to the United States for scientific dating.
The excavation is expected to conclude in another month, with plans to display the archaeological finds publicly, according to the Fine Arts Department.