'Thiwalat' supports registering 'Phra Nakhon Khiri' as a World Heritage site and is promoting the establishment of Phetchaburi's first central museum following the discovery of a Brahmi script ring estimated to be about 2,000 years old, along with efforts to return artifacts to their place of origin.
4 Jul 2026 GMT+7 Thiwalat Angkinan, Member of Parliament for Phetchaburi from the Bhumjaithai Party and chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Religion, Arts, and Culture, revealed updates on the archaeological findings at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Ban Lat district, Phetchaburi province. She said that recently the archaeological team has found two more gold rings, one of which is a seal ring with Brahmi inscriptions on its head, dating back approximately 1,900 to 2,100 years. Previously, villagers discovered a Mohorathuek drum, which initiated further excavations that uncovered a total of five Mohorathuek drums, eight ancient human skeletons, with a ninth believed to be a child’s skeleton, as well as valuable ornaments such as bracelets, gold rings, bronze vessels, and ancient beads. Archaeologists noted this as the first site in Thailand with such a large number of artifacts and structures. They plan to request budget support from the Fine Arts Department to continue excavation and study.
Thiwalat said that due to the rainy season, efforts are underway to temporarily relocate the skeletons to a museum in Pathum Thani province, and after the rainy season, the artifacts will be brought back for public exhibition in Phetchaburi and nearby areas. “As a native of Phetchaburi and chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Religion, Arts, and Culture, I see that Phetchaburi has abundant historical and cultural heritage but lacks a central provincial museum. Most of the province’s artifacts and treasures are stored and displayed elsewhere because there is no suitable local museum. The existing museum at Phra Nakhon Khiri has accessibility issues, especially for the elderly, so I hope the Fine Arts Department will provide support in this regard.”
The commission chair further disclosed that the Director-General of the Fine Arts Department plans to promote 'Phra Nakhon Khiri' for World Heritage registration by forming a working group chaired by the provincial governor to carefully assess potential impacts on the annual Phra Nakhon Khiri festival, which attracts tens of thousands of participants. The province welcomes funding for restoration and enhancement efforts.
It is expected that by the end of this year, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chiang Mai provinces will receive World Heritage status. The commission invites all capable provinces to collaborate and connect with the commission to promote Thai heritage sites internationally and boost national tourism.