The ancient history of Phuket indicates that the region has been inhabited for thousands of years. I had first hand view of this, when I explored the karst sea caves of Phangnga National Park, just north of Phuket, to view the ancient rock art. The steep limestone cliffs curve like the dome of a cathedral. Stalactites hang down like chandeliars. Etched on the ceiling are ancient rock art. They could have been drawn a few thousand years ago, or as recently as just a century ago. The people who did them could be seafarers or sea-gypsies who seek shelter in these caves during storms. In any case, the petroglyphs provide an indication of how long the Phuket region has been inhabited.
At the very least, the ancient history of Phuket can be traced back at least three thousand years. That's the age of arrowheads discovered in the Kamala Beach area. They probably belonged to primitive tribes of hunter-gatherers not unlike the Orang Asli (natives) that live in the jungles of Malaysia and Thailand. The existence of tin ore in Phuket and areas around it has been known since ancient times. The early inhabitants of Phuket had made use of tin, and accounts by early travelers passing through the region reported seeing ancient tin mines in the area.
Tin was used to harden copper alloys. The trade in tin and copper ingots was reported as early as 1500 BC. By 1200 BC, iron was replacing tin for use in making weapons and tools. However, tin continued to be used, especially for the making of bronze statuary. Buddha statues are still being made in Thailand using the same ancient techniques. By the second half of the first millennium, the Malay peninsula was already a noted resource for tin.
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Ancient Petroglyph in Phangnga
Petroglyph at Phangnga National Park
Petroglyph at Phangnga National Park
Another view of the petroglyphs
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