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The gold rings were found with human bones during an excavation at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Phetchaburi province last week.
A gold ring found at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Thailand. (AP/Thai Fine Arts Department)
A pair of small gold rings unearthed in Thailand has revealed an ancient link with India stretching back to civilisations more than 2,000 years ago. The discovery was made in a new archaeological site in western Thailand, giving an insight into the people who once lived there.
The rings were found with human bones during an excavation at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Phetchaburi province last week, according to Thailand’s Fine Arts Department. The discovery has created a buzz among historians as one of the rings was engraved with characters from the Bhrami script, one of India’s most ancient writing systems.
Experts believe that these are more than just ornaments and could provide clues about the people who lived and travelled across Asia more than two millennia ago. The site was dated to a late prehistoric era in Thailand, a period of human settlement also known as the Iron Age, estimated to be around 1,500 to 2,500 years ago.
What’s The Ancient India Link?
An initial assessment of the Bhrami script by experts identified it as reading “pusarakhitasa”, meaning “the one protected by Pushya”, according to the Fine Arts Department. Notably, Pushya is considered to be one of the most auspicious zodiac signs in Indian astronomy. Many Hindus regard Pushya as a period for important life events and ceremonies.
The other ring found with the same skeletal remains was a plain gold ring without any pattern. Experts believe the owner of the two rings may have been a merchant from the Vaishya community, a trading class in ancient India.
India’s Role In Asia
The discovery highlighted the possibility that Indian traders may have travelled and traded in several parts of present-day Thailand. There have been several historical examples of India sharing extensive trade and cultural links with other countries in Southeast Asia, long before modern borders existed.
Since the earliest centuries, Indian merchants travelled extensively across the Bay of Bengal, trading spices, textiles, beads and precious metals with kingdoms in present-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Ancient Indian epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata also influenced local art and architecture in Cambodia and Indonesia.
The Don Yai Thong archaeological site, about 130 km southwest of Bangkok, was discovered earlier this year after residents found pieces of ancient bronze drums in a rice field, leading to further excavation. Since February, archaeologists have discovered eight human skeletons, bronze and gold jewellery, pottery and other artefacts indicating a ceremonial burial of wealthy people or members of the society’s upper classes, according to The Associated Press.
The Fine Arts Department said the excavation is expected to be complete in another month, with plans to showcase the archaeological findings to the public.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
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