2,000-year-old gold rings and human bones found by archaeologists

An archaeological excavation in western Thailand has unearthed two gold rings, estimated to be around 2,000 years old, alongside human skeletal remains. The discovery was made at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Phetchaburi province last week, according to a statement from Thailand's Fine Arts Department.

One of the rings bears engravings believed to be in Bhrami script, an ancient Indian writing system. Experts have tentatively translated the inscription as "pusarakhitasa," meaning "the one protected by Pushya," a significant zodiac sign in Indian astronomy. The second ring, found with the same remains, is plain gold. The department suggests the owner may have been a merchant belonging to the Vaishya caste, a group within India's ancient caste system.

The Don Yai Thong site, located about 80 miles southwest of Bangkok, was identified earlier this year after local residents discovered ancient bronze drums in a rice field. Initial dating places the site in Thailand's late prehistoric era, also known as the Iron Age, approximately 1,500 to 2,500 years ago. Since February, excavations have revealed eight human skeletons, gold and bronze jewelry, pottery, and other artifacts consistent with ceremonial burials for affluent individuals or members of the upper social classes.

Archaeologists are continuing their work at the site, with charcoal samples sent to the United States for scientific dating. The excavation is expected to conclude in about a month, after which the findings are planned to be displayed to the public. The Fine Arts Department has also released a video showcasing the ongoing dig and the examination of artifacts and human bones.

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pusarakhitasa