On November 20, Mr. Sutham Wongchan, Head of Phu Wiang National Park, announced the discovery of three new ancient rock art sites in Khon Kaen Province during a joint exploration from November 18–19. The team included park officials, members of Khon Kaen Geopark, and experts from the Fine Arts Department’s 8th Regional Office, led by Ms. Tipwan Wongassapaiboon.

The newly discovered sites are:

  1. Phaeng E Khae: Located at Hin Lad Phi Lok, this site features symbolic line drawings beneath a rock shelter shaped like a crocodile.
  2. Tham Charoen: Found near Pha Wiang 2 (Hua Phu Chan) ranger unit, it includes large rock wall paintings depicting handprints, a human figure approximately 80 cm tall, a smaller figure overlapping a larger one, and symbolic images.
  3. Koeng Ma Daeng: Situated near Pha Wiang 1 (Pak Chong) ranger unit, it features red paintings of a fox and handprints on a medium-sized rock surface.

Preliminary studies estimate the paintings to be 1,500–4,000 years old, making them significant archaeological evidence of prehistoric human settlement in the region. Phu Wiang National Park has long been recognized for its archaeological value, particularly as a key dinosaur fossil site, and continues to reveal ancient cultural artifacts.

Mr. Sutham stated that the park will collaborate with the Fine Arts Department’s 8th Regional Office to conduct further studies and consider opening the sites to the public as educational and tourist attractions. This discovery enriches understanding of prehistoric life in northeastern Thailand and reinforces Phu Wiang’s importance as a cultural heritage site of national significance.