Sirindhorn Museum

Name of Thailand’s first dedicated dinosaur museum and a key centre for paleontological study, also known as the Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Research Center. Located at Phu Kum Khao (ภูขุมข้าว), a 300-metre-high hill in Nohn Buri (โนนบุรี) Subdistrict, Sahatsakhan (สหัสขันธ์) District, Kalasin Province, the museum was named for Princess Sirindhorn (fig.) and is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive dinosaur sites in Southeast Asia. It presents natural history exhibitions with a focus on fossils, biodiversity, conservation, and scientific interpretation. The paleontological importance of Phu Kum Khao came to light in 1994 when Phra Yannawisahn Thera (พระญาณวิสาลเถร), abbot of Wat Sakkawan (วัดสักกะวัน), discovered dinosaur fossils in the area. This led to systematic excavation by the Thai-French paleobiology team and the Department of Mineral Resources. A significant moment occurred in 1995 when Princess Sirindhorn visited the site, prompting the development of a temporary excavation shelter, followed by the construction of a research facility in 1996. Over 700 fossilized bones have since been excavated from Early Cretaceous rock layers, dating back approximately 130 million years. These remains, found primarily on the shoulder of Phu Kum Khao, belong to at least seven plant-eating dinosaurs, including Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae (ภูเวียงโกซอรัส สิรินธรเน), previously discovered in Khon Kaen Province. The site also yielded teeth from both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. In 2014, it was officially designated a fossil site under the Fossil Protection Act. Inside the museum, thematic exhibition zones trace the evolution of Earth and life. The journey begins with the formation of the universe and Earth, and examines extinction theories such as the meteorite impact that ended the age of dinosaurs. It then explores the origins of life from early microbial forms to the development of oxygen-producing blue-green algae. The Paleozoic Era is presented as a time of dramatic diversification, from marine invertebrates to early land vertebrates. The Mesozoic Era highlights the rise of reptiles following the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea, showcasing the age in which dinosaurs dominated land, pterosaurs ruled the skies, and life flourished in increasingly varied ecosystems. Through its research and exhibits, the Sirindhorn Museum continues to promote scientific understanding and public awareness of Thailand’s prehistoric heritage. WATCH VIDEO, VIDEO (EN) and VIDEO (TH). 回