Post by Sharon Faulkner on Mar 29, 2006 8:53:32 GMT -5
Cave paintings in Thailand
24. March 2006
THAILAND has been a through-route for civilizations since Pleistocene (Ice Age) times.
In recent years, several places, particularly in North East Thailand, have become centres for archaeological research. Whilst much data has been unearthed in regard to use of tools, burial grounds, etc., of particular interest are the paintings found on cave walls and rock ledges. These paintings can be regarded as Thailand’s first art.
The purpose of these paintings was two-fold. First, the paintings illustrated the beliefs and traditions of the time. Second, as with all art, design ideas originated with the artist.
Rock art, as it is known, can be classified by technique. The coloured paintings use dry colours, spraying and impressing. The etching techniques include gouging, scraping and carving.
The symbols used would be easily recognized by the people in the community. Human figures were shown as silhouettes, signs and stick figures. Animals drawn in silhouette and outline included turtles, frogs and tortoises; profiles of cattle, deer and fish were also popular.
Cave paintings can be seen all over Thailand. One of the best sites is Pha Taem National Park near Ubon Ratchathani, see picture. Here at the base of a cliff (from the top you can see Laos) are paintings over 3,000 years old. Discovered in 1981, these show human hands and animals. Others illustrate crops being planted, together with agricultural tools.
Another similar site is at Khao Chan Ngam in Nakhon Patchasima Province.
At Phu Wiang National Park in Khon Kaen Province is Tham Pha Mue Daeng, also known as Red Palm Cave after the wall paintings of palm prints in red ochre.
In Kanchanaburi, there are rock paintings at Daeng Mountain and Ta Duang. At Daeng Mountain the paintings are religiously inspired, and the styles are mainly realistic. The figures at Ta Duang are stickmen in procession.
It is surmised that rock art originated from ancient trading people, who left cave paintings as a record of their existence and the route which they took across the country.
www.huahintoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=808
24. March 2006
THAILAND has been a through-route for civilizations since Pleistocene (Ice Age) times.
In recent years, several places, particularly in North East Thailand, have become centres for archaeological research. Whilst much data has been unearthed in regard to use of tools, burial grounds, etc., of particular interest are the paintings found on cave walls and rock ledges. These paintings can be regarded as Thailand’s first art.
The purpose of these paintings was two-fold. First, the paintings illustrated the beliefs and traditions of the time. Second, as with all art, design ideas originated with the artist.
Rock art, as it is known, can be classified by technique. The coloured paintings use dry colours, spraying and impressing. The etching techniques include gouging, scraping and carving.
The symbols used would be easily recognized by the people in the community. Human figures were shown as silhouettes, signs and stick figures. Animals drawn in silhouette and outline included turtles, frogs and tortoises; profiles of cattle, deer and fish were also popular.
Cave paintings can be seen all over Thailand. One of the best sites is Pha Taem National Park near Ubon Ratchathani, see picture. Here at the base of a cliff (from the top you can see Laos) are paintings over 3,000 years old. Discovered in 1981, these show human hands and animals. Others illustrate crops being planted, together with agricultural tools.
Another similar site is at Khao Chan Ngam in Nakhon Patchasima Province.
At Phu Wiang National Park in Khon Kaen Province is Tham Pha Mue Daeng, also known as Red Palm Cave after the wall paintings of palm prints in red ochre.
In Kanchanaburi, there are rock paintings at Daeng Mountain and Ta Duang. At Daeng Mountain the paintings are religiously inspired, and the styles are mainly realistic. The figures at Ta Duang are stickmen in procession.
It is surmised that rock art originated from ancient trading people, who left cave paintings as a record of their existence and the route which they took across the country.
www.huahintoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=808