17 March
Spirulina Spirulina are discovered by Belgium scientist as blue-green algae that is high in nutrients and considered one of the nature’s greatest Superfoods in 1967. In 1984 Dr Min Thein, lecturer from Mawlamyne University studied the spirulina at Twintaung crater in Budalin Township, Sagaing Division and production started in 1987-1988. The maximum production of spirulina in 1999-2000 was over 160 metric ton. In the year 2011-2012 the production declined to 20 metric ton and after 2013- 2014 the production of spirulina decreased less than 10 metric ton.
Regarding the decline of production of the spirulina, the generous gift from mother earth Dr Min Thein frequently discussed with the geologists from Myanmar Geosciences Society to search for the reasons why the production had been declined. Although the professionals are producing with sustainable development they could not find the causes of unexpected failure yet. It would be the lesson how the environment and ecology are related each other and importance of collaborative effort by professionals.
The establishment of Geoparks could be avoided such problems by collaborative study of environment, educating, conservation and sustainable development practices.
Despite the declination of production of spirulina the beauty of maar lake, tephra sections along the road sides, green environment are attractable to local and foreign guests, researchers and University students. This is the time to make research in Twintaung area on geology, zoology, palaeontology, microbiology, agriculture, biodiversity etc. to develop various arts and sciences. The geotourism will become developed in Sagaing Region and the conservation for environment and ecology is a significant activity. We congratulate the documentary of Channel K in February 2019 in which Chief Minister of Sagaing Region presented about 6 tourist sites in Sagaing Region.
Anythian Culture
The artefacts of famous An- yanthian Culture, Neolithic culture, were found in this area. The axe and tools made up of flint and petrified wood are found in the dry zone of Irrawaddy Valley of Upper Myanmar. In 1894 Dr. F. Noetling announced that he had found human artifacts in situ in an Upper Miocene or Lower Pliocene horizon at Yenangyaung,
Upper Burma.’ Whereas none of the subsequent investigators of this locality challenged the human origin of the specimens, several competent geologists and archaeologists pointed out that identical artifacts occurred in abundance on the surface of the plain some 100 feet above Noetling’s alleged implementiferous stratum. This latter observation was confirmed by various members of the Joint American Southeast Asiatic Expedition during the 1937-1938 season’s field-work; in fact definite evidence was obtained proving that the material in question is Post- Pleistocene in age and that it belongs to a Neolithic culture. The first Palaeolithic tools from Burma were discovered by Mr. T. 0. Morris of the Geological Survey of India during the early 1930’s. Subsequent work in that country by the Joint American Southeast Asiatic Expedition for Early Man has led to the recognition of a new Lower Palaeolithic culture-the Anyathian- which is devoid of hand-axes.
There are at least 14 Anyanthian Cultural sites in Myanmar so far. Pho Win Taung and Shwe Ba Taung
The standard of stone curving, parietal, sculpture and religious of ancient Myanmar can be observed at Pho Win Taung and Shwe Ba Taung which 25 kilometer west of Monywa at Yinmabin Township in Sagaing Region. According to the Myanmar legends, the Pho Win Taung caves were once the abode of an alchemist who possessed supernatural powers. The name of the alchemist who lived in these caves was U Pho Win and in honour of him the mountain and caves were named Pho Win Taung. U Pho Win was so powerful that he could fly, survive under the water, cure manifold illnesses, turns base metals into gold. He practised Samahta Meditation to attain Siddhi or the ultimate state of renunciation.
There are more than 900 manmade caves and about 446,444 Buddha image and ancient painting on the inner wall of the caves. Most of the paintings are based on Jataka story of Buddha but due to overlap painting on the same place therefore the age of painting is impossible to estimate. It was believed that the King Bandawa donated the caves and building in 849. In 17th and 18th century the wealthy people donated Buddha Images, bells and lion images which were made up of Bronze. The bronze artefacts are, due to lack of conservation, deteriorating and the source of copper metal were considered to be carried from nearby Kyeesin Taung, Sabe Taung and Lapadaung Taung mines. If it is so we can imagine how the human beings and planet earth related each other since prehistoric days.
These are the most significance value for establishing the UNESCO global Geopark in this area. Shwe Ba Taung is located on the west bank of Chindwin river just beyond the Pho Win Taung.
Tremendous amount of caves and temples are curved out from the surrounding volcanic rocks and filled with ancient Buddha Images. The 13th Century mural paintings are on the wall of the caves and proud of showing the rank of ancient arts of Myanmar.
Nyaunggan Bronze Age Culture The Nyaunggan Maar lake and bronze age artefacts from ancient cemetery on the rim of the crater is invaluable Archaeological Heritage of Myanmar.
The Nyaunggan crater has lack of water before 7 years ago but the crater has received some amount of water knowing without any reason. The local farmer U Chit Hlaing discovered some artefacts when he was ploughing his farm in 1997 and he reported to Tanpawaddy U Win Maung via local carpenter U Htwa. As U Win Maung is expert in archaeology he excavated the first place at Nyaunggan grave yard and discovered earthen pots, bronze artefacts and some ceremonial stone rings. In 1998-99 the Department of Archaeology excavated Nyaunggan first time that a cemetery yielding bronze artefacts had been systematically explored. The bronze weapons and ceremonial rings in mortuary contexts gave some evidence of ranking but there has not been full analysis of these in relation to pottery, the most abundant grave good. The archaeologists pointed out that the Stone Age and Bronze Age are overlapping in Myanmar and Bronze Age would be BC1500 and Iron Age would be BC 500 respectively.
The ancient elephant fossils
The villagers from Pauk Tike reported Myanmar Geosciences Geopark Development Committee in November 2018 that they have found the teeth and jaw fossils of giant animal near the village and request to identify the kind of animal.
Some petrified woods are also occurred along the creeks and on the hill top. During first week of March in 2019, Dr Yupa Thasod from Chaingmai University identified the teeth and jaw fossils and pointed out that those
are fossil remains of four-tusk ancient elephant “Steglophodon”, approximately 1.5 to 15 million years in age. The petrified wood and vertebrate fossils occurred at Pauk Tike in Yinmabin Township and those of Mount Popa in Kyaukpadaung Township are formed in the same environment which is sandstone and gravel beds of Irrawaddy Formation. Therefore, fossil wood and vertebrate fossil bearing Irrawaddy Formation is spreading both side of Ayeyawaddy River from Katha in the north to Yangon in the south.
The above mentioned Monywa Twintaung area of Sagaing Region occupied invaluable natural heritage, geoheritage, cultural and archaeological heritage and in addition the local and foreign tourists are significantly increasing these days. Therefore, we are confident that this is the time to establish National Geopark and UNESCO Global Geopark by collaborative effort in education, conservation and sustainable development in Monywa Twintaung area.
By Than Htun ( Myanmar Geosciences Society)
