Day three we had proven our ability to find two of the three caves...so he gave us a hard one to find, but just one (were we deemed more or less capable by our/our guides inability to find the cave?). This cave was called Ban Rai, and it was more of a rock shelter than a cave, perched high on top of a limestone bluff above a river. We bushwacked through the jungle looking for the path that was overgrown but visible and the 'blue sign' that would show us the way. We eventually found the 'sign' which was a small piece of wood laying on a rock...and a very over grown trail going straight up the rock face. We scrambled for an hour finally reaching the over hang. We were sure that this would be a remote cave, few had visited but...there were interpretive signs, fences, and a picnic area! Who climbs up here and builds this?! The rock shelter had been excavated and the habitation area was carbon dated to 10000 years old. One burial was found and was dated at 9000 yrs old.
There were also a few rock art panels and about 10 teak coffins (all the teak coffins in the area date to 2000-1000 years old). One was 9 m long, and some still standing. Amanda (I) found more pottery and a basalt uniface stone tool and some flakes...Very cool!
We also found a very peculiar spider on the way up. Both Aaron and Ben took more photos of this spider than of the rockshelter...
