Ancient drum recently found in Khammoune province actually an ancient half-time siren
25 Jun 2008, 02:34pm Posted by MartyDuring a recent visit to document the re-emergence of Australian Rules Football in the Lao PDR in the form of the first home match this century involving the Lao Elephants and the Jakarta Bintangs, Professor Aamon Flannery OAM took the opportunity to visit Lao National Museum and was astonished to find an ancient bronze drum.
An almost speechless Professor Flannery revealed that the drum was almost identical to those used by Australian tribesman as a half time siren in the pre-history era. Strikingly similar to drums used by Australian Tribes during ancient Australian Football matches, the drum stands 79cm high and is 100cm in width. While heavily faded the etchings could be either young men in sleeveless pink shirts astride elephants or small frogs.
“It is widely accepted that Australian Football was prominent across South East Asia prior to tectonic activity” said the professor at a hastily arranged press conference following the Lao Elephants narrow defeat to Jakarta on April 19.
Cave art in Australia is thought to depict these ancient matches. “one piece shows a collection of men chasing a ball next to a large river – on close inspection it appears that there are elephants and wombats frolicking in the water in the background” remarked the Professor.
This latest development ties nicely with the recent analysis of genetic biologist Brian Roberts who confirmed that DNA samples of the Asian elephant could be traced to the prehistoric south east Australian Wombat. During a telephone interview Professor Roberts said “the match depicted on the wall of the cave quite possibly could have coincided with the introduction of the Wombat to Asia”. “Its almost certainly possible that this Wombat was gifted to a victorious Lao side following the match, and this “trophy” could be responsible for the Lao Elephant we know today.
The Lao Elephants are considering a claim on the drum for the next home match, more news to follow.
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