Ban Nong Makha Cave 4

Terrain

General Condition

Ban Nong Makha Cave 4 or Bat Cave It is located on the west side of a small limestone mountain in the plains alternating with Lukdot Mountain. Ban Nong Makha which is a continuation with the Tanaosri Mountains in the west of the archaeological site and Phetchaburi Province

The general condition outside the cave is a forest. covered with trees The mouth of the cave is about 1 meter wide. facing south The bottom of the cave is about 50 meters deep. There was a large hole caused by an explosion to open this section of the cave to expand. causing a large number of large stones to fall onto the floor of the cave The first booth was able to shine through. On the south side of the booth, there are traces of bat droppings about 1.5 meters deep. The second booth on the east side of the first booth is a small booth. Oriented north-south, width 6 meters, length 28 meters. It has an area of ​​approximately 108 square meters. The mouth of the booth is on the north side. Within................................................

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Huai Mae Phiang, Huai Phak, Huai Krasang, Huai Samrong

Geological conditions

Tham Ban Nong Makha 4 is one of the limestone caves in Ban Nong Makha. which is arranged in the plains, alternating mountains which is an area contiguous with the Tanaosri mountain range Such limestone mountains are limestone mountains that originated in the Permian period, approx. 286-245 million years ago) in the western mountains of Phetchaburi Province and Thailand.

The general terrain is undulating plains interspersed with small limestone mountains. There are branch creeks formed by mountain ranges to nourish the area such as Huai Mae Phiang, Huai Phak, Huai Krasang and Huai Samrong.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Surveys on the surface of the year 2002 Found fragments of clay pottery and human bone fragments in a small booth inside. As for the big booth in the front and there is a light show on it. The artifacts were not found on the surface of the soil.

Archaeological excavations during 20-25 March 2002 found archaeological evidence from the surface level to the depth of about 65 cm. (about -125 cm.dt. .)

Important relics found from this archaeological site. Including clayware (Coarse texture with a lot of grains of sand Formed by hand, low temperature sintering. receives uneven heat causing the meat to not cook evenly Most have a smooth surface. Some are polished and smoked. In addition, the skin is decorated with a rope pattern. Or the rope pattern is grafted and wiped to fade. Scratch marks are small vertical lines. and stamped with wood pattern This surface decoration pattern was found in one pottery. There may be a variety of decorating techniques, such as the area above the shoulder of the vessel up to a smooth surface. But under the shoulder part is decorated with a small stamped pattern. or some parts above the shoulders up to a smooth surface Under the shoulder part is decorated with a drawstring pattern. From the analysis of the container parts found It consists of the torso and buttocks. neck and body The neck and body with ridged shoulders Pot or jar type) Human bone fragment (a long bone articular bone and a flat bone Most of them are broken.) Bone fragment (Most of them are long, lightweight bones and vertebrae. It is assumed to contain bat bones, chicken bones and tortoiseshells) and shells. (Found a small number There are both land and freshwater mollusks. Land snails are univalves, snail types, while freshwater snails are bivalves. resembling clams)

Based on the nature of the evidence and the nature of the area in which the artifacts were explored and excavated (i.e., within the small booths inside The light didn't come in. Therefore, the excavators assumed that Ban Nong Makha 4 archaeological site was probably the area used for prehistoric human burial rituals. In agricultural societies that use terrazzo tools. Which is related to archaeological sites in the plains and mountains in the nearby area, such as Ban Nong Makha Cave 1, Tham Ban Nong Makha 2, Tham Ban Nong Makha 3, Ban Huai Samrong Cave, and Ban Nong Makha The prehistoric people who left archaeological evidence in this area are probably the same group. There is a cremation ritual. is to put important pieces of bones and offerings into earthenware and put that container in the nooks and crannies of the cave.

However The area of ​​the big booth or the first booth where light can penetrate and is well ventilated. Prehistoric human spaces may have been used as well as small booths. However, due to the high disturbance in archaeological sites from the excavation of bat excrement. Thus, the evidence was destroyed.

(Pyung Wongnoi and Decha Sudsawat 2004)