Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Celebrates Project Completion in Mae Hong Son Province

Deputy Governor of Mae Hong Son Province Taweesak Wattanathamrak, and Cultural Affairs Officer Kenneth L. Foster, pour water signifying the completion of the preservation project under the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation at the Tham Lod rock shelter in Mae Hong Son Province, while project director Dr. Rasmi Shoocongdej looks on.

On February 15, 2008, staff from the Media and Cultural Section represented the Ambassador at ceremonies marking the successful conclusion of a two-year project funded by the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation to preserve prehistoric rock shelters at Tham Lod and Ban Rai in Mae Hong Son Province.  Also attending the ceremonies were Mr. Taweesak Wattanathamrak, Deputy Governor of Mae Hong Son Province and project director Dr. Rasmi Shoocongdej of Silpakorn University.   The day-long celebration began with a visit to the Tham Lod rock shelter, where participants were briefed by Dr. Rasmi on the work done at the site.  The second preserved rock shelter is located 450 meters up a mountain near Ban Rai village and has the remains of 3,000 year old teak coffins and rock paintings.  As part of the ceremonies celebrating the completion of the project, Thai artists created outdoor exhibits and worked with local school children to create art projects.   The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation was established by the U.S. Congress in 2001 and give American Ambassador’s the opportunity to support efforts to rescue cultural heritage that is fragile or in danger of being lost forever. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok provided $37,100 for this project.

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