Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum

In 1994 a monk at a temple on Phu Kum Khao hill in Kalasin found fossil bone, and the excavation that followed exposed one of the richest dinosaur sites in Southeast Asia - around seven hundred bones in a single bed, mostly of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, a sauropod, with several individuals jumbled together in what appears to have been a river deposit. Rather than remove them, the site was roofed and a museum built around it, so the main hall is the excavation itself with the bones exposed in the rock and a walkway over it. The museum around that covers the geological history of the region, other Thai finds including theropods and early birds, reconstructions and mounted skeletons, and is named for Princess Sirindhorn, who has supported palaeontological work in Thailand. It is one of the better-funded museums in Isan and the presentation is modern. It closes on Mondays.

Highlights

• The in-situ dig - around seven hundred bones exposed in the rock under a roof.
• Phuwiangosaurus - the sauropod species most of the bones belong to.
• The mounted skeletons - reconstructions of Thai finds in the surrounding halls.
• The 1994 discovery - the monk's find that started the excavation.

When to go

November to February; indoors and air-conditioned. Closed Mondays. Two to three hours covers the dig hall and the museum.

Things to know

Closed on Mondays. English labelling is partial. Kalasin is well off any tourist route and a car is needed. It is a specialist subject and holds children better than some adults.

Nearby

Kalasin town is south; Phu Phan National Park is east.