Imagine, if you will, a hidden treasure trove not of gold or jewels, but of mysterious etchings from ancient tenants of our world, their footprints etched into the very stone beneath our modern feet. This is not a passage from a fantasy novel but the vivid reality at the mesmerizing Tat Yai waterfalls – an escape nestled between the enchanting realms of Phetchabun’s Nam Nao district and Khon Kaen’s Phu Pha Man district. Here, palaeontological sleuths have uncovered a spectacular secret: an array of prehistoric footprints dating back an astounding 225 million years.
Our tale unfolds with the intrepid Department of Mineral Resources, whose valiant scouts from Mineral Resources Office Region 2, headed by the sagacious palaeontologist Tida Liard, ventured into the wilderness. Their mission: to investigate curious reports that surfaced last year regarding animal footprints within the lush confines of Phu Pha Man National Park. On a fateful Wednesday, under the shadow of Huai Hin Lad’s formidable rock formation, their search bore fruit.
Behold the five miraculous tracks on ancient mudstone! The first duo of impressions heralded the march of sauropods, these long-necked leviathans of vegetation that roamed our nascent earth between 225 to 220 million years ago, during the late Triassic period. Thailand had never whispered of such old visitors until now, making these the patriarchs of Thai prehistoric finds.
But wait – there’s more! Two additional paths belonged to some mysterious miniature beings, and a final set showcased the glory of an archosaur reptile, that elite lineage from which kings of lizards, the dinosaurs, descend. Yet, it was the archosaur’s prints that had tales to tell, revealing intimate details of the creature’s extremities – the awe-striking claws of both front and back paws imprinted in silent history.
And in an unexpected twist of discovery, these tracks differ from their cousins found near Ban Na Pho Song, brandishing unique characteristics previously unseen in the Thai fossil lexicon. It’s as if an entirely unknown ancient visitor paraded across the terrain, leaving their signature for us to marvel at eons later. Our passionate palaeontological detectives are convinced these are impressions of an ancient creature yet undocumented in Thailand’s rich history. It’s a find that whispers of hidden chapters, of stories untold, of a forgotten epoch waiting to be unveiled.
With deft hands and careful precision, the team captured the essence of the past on plastic sheets, preserving the fragile whispers of the ancient world. Yet, with the urgency that underpins all treasure hunts, they raced against time; the impending monsoon season looms, threatening to drown the area in torrents of rain, washing away the delicate traces of our distant ancestors.
As the story of this primeval gallery unfurls, one cannot help but be captivated by the allure of the unknown, the excitement of the past reaching out through the ages, and the sense of connection to a time when these colossal beings made their mark upon the earth. This discovery is not just a chapter added to the book of paleontology; it is a siren call to adventurers and dreamers alike, to explore, discover, and preserve the stories of the land that time has nearly forgotten.
Be First to Comment