The Study of the Way of Life and Utilization of Limestone Caves by Prehistoric Humans Based on Evidence Found in Lawa Cave, Wang Krachae Subdistrict, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

This research aimed 1) to investigate the evidences in prehistoric period at Lawa cave, Wang Krachae subdistrict, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi province, 2) to study the evidence that was reflected the way of life and social conditions of prehistoric humans in prehistoric period at Lawa cave, Wang Krachae subdistrict, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi province, and 3) to study the use of limestone caves by humans in prehistoric period. The research instruments were as follows: 1) a written historical evidence record form, used to collect data from documents, textbooks, books, and related research, and 2) a non-written historical evidence record form, used to record prehistoric evidence found in Lawa cave, Wang Krachae subdistrict, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi province. The research results showed that 1) the evidence of prehistoric period found in Lawa cave, Wang Krachae subdistrict, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi province included pottery fragments, shell fragments, and wooden coffin fragments. 2) Lawa cave contained the evidence in prehistoric period that reflected the way of life in prehistoric period, including a nomadic lifestyle based on hunting and gathering forest products in hunter society, which was related to the evidence of the shell fragments. The agricultural lifestyle in early farming society was connected to the evidence of pottery fragments, shell fragments, and wooden coffin fragments. 3) Humans in prehistoric period at hunter-gatherer society used limestone caves as temporary residences. This was the result of their nomadic lifestyle of hunting and gathering forest products, while prehistoric humans in the early agricultural society began to use limestone caves as places for burying the dead in prehistoric time.