Shellfish diver finds Buddha head mistaken for durian
A shellfish diver in Buriram's Nong Thalok reservoir discovered a severed Buddha head inside an underwater fertilizer sack on Saturday, initially mistaking it for discarded durian shells. Authorities are investigating whether the 30-kilogra
BURIRAM — On May 24, 2026, a Thai man searching for shellfish in a northeastern Thailand reservoir made an extraordinary discovery: a severed Buddha head lying underwater, which he initially mistook for a sack of discarded durian shells.
Nang Rong district police reported the find at approximately noon on Saturday at Nong Thalok reservoir in Nang Rong subdistrict. Deputy Police Lieutenant Karun Saengarun, an investigator at Nang Rong police station, said rescue workers and a diving team were dispatched after residents alerted authorities.
The reservoir, which spans more than 50 rai (about 20 acres), serves as a raw water source for the local tap water system.
The discoverer, identified as 29-year-old Tawan, told police he was diving for shellfish as usual when his foot struck what he thought was an underwater sack. "At first I thought it was a bag filled with discarded durian shells," he explained. "But when I opened it, I was shocked to find a Buddha head inside."
Fearing he might show disrespect to a sacred object, Tawan immediately contacted police without removing the artifact from the water.
Divers recovered the old fertilizer sack in approximately 10 minutes. Inside, they found a Buddha head measuring roughly 30 centimetres in height and width, weighing about 30 kilograms, with its top section appearing to have been cut off.
Police documented the discovery and transported the artifact to Nang Rong police station for examination. Authorities plan to consult experts from Thailand's Fine Arts Department to determine the statue's age and origin, and to investigate whether it was stolen from a temple.
