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Laos

Tam Pa Ling Cave

Karst cave with hominin fossils in Laos

Time Periods

Paleolithic

Paleolithic

Mesolithic

Mesolithic

Neolithic

Neolithic

Chalcolithic

Chalcolithic

Bronze Age

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Iron Age

Classical Period

Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Early Modern Period

Early Modern Period

Industrial Period

Industrial Period

Contemporary Period

Contemporary Period

About

Tam Pa Ling, situated in the Annamite Mountains of Laos, is a significant archaeological site primarily known for its karst cave that housed hominin fossils. These fossils include a skull and mandibles with a mix of modern and archaic traits, dating back to approximately 70,000 to 46,000 years ago. The site provides crucial evidence for the presence and migration patterns of anatomically modern humans in Southeast Asia during the Upper Paleolithic period. The fossils, characterized by distinct features, fill a critical gap in the regional fossil record and challenge previous theories of human migration, suggesting pathways that included river valleys rather than just coastal routes. This discovery has reshaped our understanding of early human dispersal through Asia.

Gallery

Explore photographs of ancient structures, artifacts, and archaeological excavations at Tam Pa Ling Cave

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FileTam_Pa_Ling_cave_south_entrance.jpg

Archaeological Features

Explore the unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Caves

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's archaeological history

Plan Your Visit

Details

Country
Laos
Source
Wikipedia