Si Thep, Thailand – Under the scorching sun, Thai archaeologist Tanachaya Tiandee clambers through ruined pagodas in the ancient town of Si Thep, trying to unlock their mysteries — a task made harder because many of the clues are missing.
Looters stripped Thailand’s rich historical sites such as Si Thep over decades, taking many items abroad. The kingdom is now trying to repatriate those stolen cultural treasures.
“The big picture like the building was discovered, but the artefacts which tell little details are missing, making a lot of stories untold about Si Thep,” Tanachaya told AFP. “It’s like a piece of puzzle was missing.”
Si Thep, which archaeologists date back to between 1,500 to 1,700 years ago, is inscribed in UNESCO’s cultural world heritage list on Tuesday — Thailand’s first addition since 1992.
Over several centuries and under the…
