2,000-Year-Old Gold Ring with Brahmi Inscription Discovered in Thailand

Key facts

• A 2,000-year-old gold ring featuring an inscription in the ancient Indian Brahmi script was discovered at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in Phetchaburi province, Thailand.
• The inscription on the ring reads pusarakhitasa, which translates to the one protected by Pushya, referring to an auspicious lunar constellation in Indian astronomy.
• Thailand's Fine Arts Department suggests the ring may have belonged to a merchant from the ancient Indian Vaishya community.
• The Don Yai Thong site has yielded eight human skeletons, pottery, bronze artefacts, and gold jewellery, indicating it may have been a ceremonial burial ground for high-ranking members of society.
• The discovery provides evidence of ancient maritime trade routes that linked India with Southeast Asia for the exchange of spices, precious metals, jewellery, and cultural traditions.