high cave

Terrain

General Condition

Tham Sung is in the group of ancient caves in Tham Non Hin Kliang. It is located in a flat area at the foothills of the northern part of Phu Phra Bat. The group of Tham Non Hin Kliang is a group of 3 color painting sources, namely Tham Non Hin Kliang 1 Tham Non Hin Kliang 2 and Tham Sung The surrounding area of ​​the stone shed is a natural stone courtyard that slopes to the north. And there is a small stream sandwiched between Tham Non Hin Kliang 1 and Tham Non Hin Kliang 2

Tham Tall is located 50 meters east from Tham Non Hin Kliang (Phayao Khem Nak 1996 :136). The condition of the source is a large rock shed with boulders measuring 15 meters wide, 15 meters long, 3 meters high from the ground. It sits on two small rocks, which form a rock shed that extends to the southwest. There are patterns of color paintings appearing on the ceiling and walls of the stone shed (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :19)

Phu Phra Bat is a small sandstone mountain. A child in the Phu Phan mountain range or Phu Phan Kham. The average height above sea level is about 320-350 meters. The west of the mountain is steep. and cant descend to the east.

Phu Phan or Phu Phan Kham is a sandstone mountain range that lies in the north-south direction. in the west of Udon Thani Province and Sakon Nakhon Basin

The general condition of Phu Phra Bat is sparse forest. There are natural vegetation types such as hardwood trees, maka wood, red wood, Ching Chang wood, Pradu wood, and deciduous dipterocarp trees. On Phu Phra Bat, there are many open stone terraces, rocks and sandstone sheds scattered around. caused by the action of water and wind on the sandstone.

Because there are quite a lot of hardwood covered. Together with many other natural plants, Phu Phra Bat is classified in the National Reserved Forest Area, “Pah Khuean Nam”, and is the source of many streams such as Huai Hin Lat, Huai Dan Yai, Huai Hin Rong, Huai Nang Usa and Huai Khok Khat. which flows into the east, confluence with the Mekong River at Tha Bo District Nong Khai Province

The plains surrounding the mountains are mainly cultivated for rice and cassava. The eastern valley of Phu Phra Bat is the largest valley characterized by undulating plains. Most of the area is cultivated for rice and cassava. This valley is commonly known as Lup Phan.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Huai Hin Lat, Huai Dan Yai, Huai Hin Rong, Huai Nang Usa, Huai Khok Khad, Huai Mong, Mekong River

Geological conditions

Phu Phra Bat is a sandstone hill. in the Phu Phan Noi mountain range at the edge of the western plateau of Udon Thani Sandstone is white, orange, pebbled, grit consists of quartz, chert, red talc. some igneous rocks with traces There are shale and gravel interspersed. It is in the Phu Phan rock unit, Korat series, in the lower - mid-Cretaceous period, or about 90-140 million years ago. The sandstone in the area has outstanding geological features. Because there are different properties in each floor. and has undergone geological erosion by water and wind. Makes the appearance of the landscape that is strange in many areas, such as Hor Nang Usa, Tham Chang, Father Ta's coffin, Thao Baros coffin, Nang Usa coffin, Pho Ta temple, Phra Ku Nang Usa cave, Nang Usa pond. Quail Stone Shed as well as the geological, physical and geological features found in the sandstone. which is a clear stratum or sedimentary rock For example, showing interleaving layers with gravel layers. An oblique-level display showing a change in water flow direction. (Department of Mineral Resources 2009 :38-39)

various shapes formed from sandstone and gravel sand have different texture The highly durable rock layers protrude into rock sheds. or a layer of rock overlaid on top The less durable rock layers will erode. or being eroded or is a concave part under the hard rock Become a rock shed or a rocky cliff such as Hor Nang Usa, etc.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

There are patterns of colored paintings appearing on the ceiling and walls of the stone sheds. which can be divided into 3 areas (in order from left to right) (Archaeology Division 1989a:137; Payao Khemnak 1996 :136; Pitakchai Jatuchai 2010 :19-21) as follows:

1. The ceiling area of ​​the stone shed Write a red line drawing It is a serrated sawtooth pattern with 2 lines parallel to each other with curved lines. But some patterns are missing. Not clear

2. At the left wall of the stone shed write with red lines It is a picture of parallel sawtooth wavy lines mixed with crooked lines. Some lines intersect in a rhombus. and in the middle of the image are stripes which the exact shape is unknown.

3. At the right wall of the stone shed Write with faint yellow strokes. It looks like a net.

Nowadays, all such patterns have been greatly eradicated. But it's still quite noticeable.

Pitakchai Chatuchai (2010 :21) assumed that due to the nature of the source is a stone shed with a wide room and raised from the stone courtyard to 3 meters, so it is suitable for use as a residence. or using temporary shelters to hunt animals while hunting for things in the forest. and can also be able to block the danger from the beast The found color paintings are probably symbols to represent the possession or territorial possession of a family or group of people for use as a residence for people in the late prehistoric period or the metal age. Around 3,000-2,500 years ago

Sathaporn Kwanyuen (Archaeology Division 1989a) assumed that these paintings are related to rituals performed to stabilize the state of society.