Scholarlink

<p>Tham Pha Mue, a newly documented rock art site in Khammouane Province, central Laos, represents a significant addition to the study of Southeast Asian prehistoric art. This cliffside rock shelter, the first of its type described in Laos, contains over 200 rock art motifs, predominantly hand stencils, alongside a substantial number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic depictions. The site’s motifs exhibit striking similarities with rock art traditions elsewhere in Southeast Asia, including sites in Laos, Thailand, and as far south as Peninsular Malaysia. In this paper, we present a description of the rock art at Tham Pha Mue and explore its potential connections to a broader regional visual vocabulary. The consistency of certain motifs, such as human figures with distinctive attributes or the presence of specific abstract designs suggests shared a symbolic reference across ancient communities. We propose that Tham Pha Mue offers evidence for a prehistoric network of symbolic communication, reflecting common material culture and reinforcing the importance of cross-regional comparisons in understanding Southeast Asia’s archaeological record.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Tham Pha Mue, a rock art site in Central Laos and potential stylistic connections in Mainland Southeast Asia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月15日

查看全文
  • Noel Hidalgo Tan,
  • Olivia Rivero Vila,
  • Xabier Eguilleor-Carmona,
  • Jean-Philippe Degletagne,
  • Nitixay Khamphoumy,
  • Boumpasakxay Khampoumi

摘要

Tham Pha Mue, a newly documented rock art site in Khammouane Province, central Laos, represents a significant addition to the study of Southeast Asian prehistoric art. This cliffside rock shelter, the first of its type described in Laos, contains over 200 rock art motifs, predominantly hand stencils, alongside a substantial number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic depictions. The site’s motifs exhibit striking similarities with rock art traditions elsewhere in Southeast Asia, including sites in Laos, Thailand, and as far south as Peninsular Malaysia. In this paper, we present a description of the rock art at Tham Pha Mue and explore its potential connections to a broader regional visual vocabulary. The consistency of certain motifs, such as human figures with distinctive attributes or the presence of specific abstract designs suggests shared a symbolic reference across ancient communities. We propose that Tham Pha Mue offers evidence for a prehistoric network of symbolic communication, reflecting common material culture and reinforcing the importance of cross-regional comparisons in understanding Southeast Asia’s archaeological record.