The Million-Year-Old Crab Burial Museum at Ban Noen Monta is located in Village No. 10, Ban Noen Monta, Krajae Subdistrict, Na Yai Am District, Chanthaburi Province. This site is an important center for both natural and historical studies in Chanthaburi. Originally, the area was part of a coastal forest (Samet forest) and served as a communal area for local residents.

 

Between 1996 and 1999, the residents of Ban Noen Monta initiated a water resource development project to address household water supply issues. They applied for budget support from the Department of Land Development to excavate a pond in the area. During the excavation, fossils of marine animals were discovered on the surface, which were revealed more clearly after rainfall. These fossils included numerous crab shells and mollusk shells.

 

The discovery of these marine fossils was significant because they date back approximately 5,070 years. Some locals collected the fossils as personal items, prompting the Krajae Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) to prohibit further excavation in order to conserve natural resources and preserve them for public education and future generations.

 

The SAO coordinated with Na Yai Am District and Chanthaburi Province to involve the Department of Mineral Resources in assessing the site and collecting fossil samples for age verification. The Paleobiology Division of the Geological Department conducted the investigation on May 31, 2001. The results confirmed that the collected crab and shell fossils are indeed about 5,070 years old.

 

Following this, the Chanthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization constructed the Crab Museum to house and preserve the fossils. The museum was completed in 2008. Today, the museum is managed by the Krajae Subdistrict Administrative Organization under the leadership of Mr. Prajuab Hemwech, the SAO Chief, ensuring that the fossils are carefully preserved for the public, students, and researchers.

 

Visitors can reach the museum by private car via Sukhumvit Road, entering through the Ban Yang Rahong route (Village No. 2) for approximately 6 kilometers, with signage along the way. Visiting the museum provides a valuable opportunity to learn about ancient marine life in Chanthaburi and understand the importance of natural resource conservation alongside sustainable community-based educational development.

 

The Million-Year-Old Crab Burial Museum is not only a repository for 5,070-year-old crab and shell fossils but also serves as an academic and cultural learning center for the community. It exemplifies the integration of public utility projects, such as pond excavation, with the discovery and conservation of natural resources, creating a sustainable educational site for future generations.

 

For more information, visitors may contact the Krajae Subdistrict Administrative Organization at +66 39 398115 or visit the museum directly at Village No. 10, Ban Noen Monta, Krajae Subdistrict, Na Yai Am District, Chanthaburi 22170. The museum is a unique educational and natural heritage site of great historical significance in Chanthaburi Province.