Tam Pa Ling Cave, Archaeological cave on Pa Hang Mountain, Annamite Mountains, Laos.
Tam Pa Ling is a limestone cave on Pa Hang Mountain in the Annamite range, descending approximately 65 meters into the rock. The main chamber spans about 40 meters from east to west and 30 meters from north to south.
The cave became an archaeological excavation site between 2009 and 2013, when researchers discovered three hominin fossils there. The oldest find, a skull called TPL1, dates to between 70,000 and 46,000 years ago.
The name Tam Pa Ling translates to Cave of the Monkeys in Laotian, referring to the primates that inhabit the Annamite Mountains where this site is located.
Visiting the cave requires a knowledgeable guide and good physical fitness because of its location at 1,170 meters elevation in northeastern Laos. Prepare for rough terrain and a challenging hike to reach the entrance.
The fossils found here suggest that early humans spread across Southeast Asia through inland river valleys rather than following coastal routes. This discovery shifted understanding of how ancient peoples moved through the region.
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