"Officials from the Department of Fine Arts" , ventured into the forest and climbed the mountain to enter Pha Wiang Cave, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, to investigate the "newly discovered cave paintings" estimated to be about 4,000 years old
On 5 September 2026, a reporter reported that at around 12:00 PM on 4 September 2026, Ms. Tipwan Wongassapiboon, an expert archaeologist from Fine Arts Office Region 8 in Khon Kaen, Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture, along with a team of four officials, reporters, and the "Gud Hae Ban Hao" Facebook page, jointly conducted a survey at Pha Wiang Cave behind Wat Tham Pha Wiang, Na Kae Subdistrict, Na Wang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province.
Afterwards, officials from the Department of Fine Arts Region 8 Khon Kaen received a report from the survey team that cave paintings were found on the rock wall at the entrance of a cave on a mountain within the Pha Wiang cave area. It was later confirmed that this rock wall is the entrance to Tham Thamath Cave, a small cave located opposite the larger Pha Wiang Cave of the temple. The officials documented and examined the condition of the cave paintings, measured the location, and used software to analyze the paintings found.
This investigation revealed that the paintings are prehistoric human artworks. On the rock wall before entering Thamath Cave, several clear red paintings were found. Notably, computer software analysis identified images of four monkeys climbing vines and below them, a painting of a gaur (wild cattle).
Additionally, traces of overlapping paintings from another period were found, as well as two handprints—one adult and one child’s. These handprints are crucial evidence reflecting the habitation of ancient humans and help tell the stories of people in the past.
Ms. Tipwan Wongassapiboon, the expert archaeologist, revealed that these paintings might reflect what prehistoric humans saw in the area, including wildlife, hunting practices, and certain activities or rituals, possibly as a form of symbolic claim before hunting. The cave walls may have served as places to transmit knowledge or teach hunting skills to future generations.
The visible paintings show monkeys leaping alongside gaur, overlain by abstract zigzag patterns, indicating at least three phases of use. The first phase features figurative animal paintings, followed by a second phase of abstract motifs painted over the first, and a third phase showing two prehistoric human handprints. These handprints likely reflect ancient rituals signifying that the individuals had been there—similar to a modern-day check-in to a location.
This site, as seen from aerial photos of Wat Tham Pha Wiang, is considered a central point between two significant historical sites: the Loei River Basin and Phu Phrabat. The cave paintings are located midway between these two, marking a central spot between the east and west sides, making it an important site in the Isan region.
Besides the cave paintings, nearby fragments of pottery with incised line patterns resembling artifacts from the Ban Chiang archaeological site in Udon Thani Province were found. This suggests cultural links across the Isan region—from Loei Province through Phu Phrabat in Udon Thani, with Pha Wiang in Nong Bua Lamphu as a key central location on this cultural route, estimated to be around 3,500 to 4,000 years old.
The survey team also entered the large Pha Wiang Cave located on the mountain ridge, which requires walking up concrete stairs and climbing rock crevices since the stairs do not yet reach the cave itself. Despite the darkness and limited light inside, officials found ancient bone fragments. The Department of Fine Arts staff photographed and collected data as evidence to prepare a report for archaeological verification and to register the site and artifacts as protected heritage.
They also urged visitors to the cave paintings or caves in the area not to touch the paintings or remove any pottery fragments from the site, emphasizing that even a single piece of evidence can reveal much about the past. Loss of such evidence could hinder archaeologists’ ability to find important historical information.
Following this, the survey team will prepare an initial report, and important sites will be registered as protected heritage and artifacts. This site is considered one of the important locations in Na Wang District and represents the second cave painting site documented in the Department of Fine Arts’ database. Whether it will be officially registered or not, the site will still be protected under the Department’s regulations on ancient monuments and artifacts, although the penalties for violations may vary.