Healer's dream yields ancient bones

LOP BURI — A local herbal healer's dreams have led to the discovery of 19 ancient human skeletons in Lop Buri.

An "ancient man" was said to have visited the healer in his dreams and told him to help dig up the bones for funeral rites. Some of the skeletons are believed to be as old as 2,700 years.

The 19 skeletons were unearthed on land belonging to Harn Moarenu, 52, and his wife Oun, 51, in Samranchai village in Chai Badan district.

The couple said that Thongjit Unasee, 43, a traditional healer using herbal plants, told them about his dreams. He said "Pu Mee" (grandfather Mee) had asked him to help dig up human skeletons buried under a tree on the couple’s land for religious rites, Thairath Online reported on Saturday.

The couple said they made the first discoveries when they and some neighbours began digging on July 5 on a one-rai site. After digging for a half-day, they found a human skeleton along with pottery, broken tiles and stone axes.

Mr Harn alerted officials from the Lop Buri office of the Fine Arts Department and other agencies, asking for help in examining the bones, which were found to date back some 2,700 years.

Mr Thongjit subsequently had another dream in which Pu Mee told him to dig 14 more holes. He and other local residents found more skeletons. Some holes contained more than one skeleton. So far, a total of 19 skeletons have been dug up.

Local residents have formed a group called "Samakkhitham Club" to take care of the ancient skeletons and other objects, said the herbal healer. The club plans to promote the village as a cultural tourism site, he added.