Art and Culture / Archaeological Sites
Thailand’s eventful past is reflected in a variety of historic sites located in almost every part of the country - more than enough to fill several itineraries for visitors with a special interest in archaeology. Near most of the archaeological sites are museums where artifacts discovered in the area are exhibited.
The oldest remains of a human settlement were found at Ban Chiang in the northeastern province of Udon Thani. Here, more than 3,000 years B. C., a mysterious culture rose, flourished, and vanished in the early centuries of the present Christian era. Excavations by the Fine Arts Department have found evidence of agriculture going back to 4,000 B.C., as well as magnificently painted pottery and what many experts believe may be the world’s earliest bronze. One of the Ban Chiang excavations has been left open for visitors, showing the levels at which the various objects were found.
The Northeast also has several Khmer ruins of major archaeological interest, perhaps the best known being Prasat Phanom Rung at Buriram and Prasat Hin Phimai near Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), both of which were outposts of the Angkorian Empire in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Well worth an extended visit is Sukhothai, the first truly independent Thai capital founded in the early 13th century in the northern part of the country. Both, the old Sukhothai and the satellite city of Si Satchanalai, 38 kilometers (24mi) away, are historical parks and are filled with impressive ruins of temples that reveal the early flourishing of distinctive Thai styles of art and architecture.
In the central region on the Chao Phaya River, the old city of Ayutthaya, which ruled the kingdom for more than 400 years, is another historical park, within easy travel from Bangkok by road or river. Here, too, ruins of magnificent old temples and palaces cover a large area, requiring several days for a really thorough exploration.
Not far away is Lopburi, formerly a Khmer city but later a summer capital for Ayutthaya kings, where some of the ruins show early European influence.
Northern Thailand was long ruled by a series of semi-independent principalities and contains several interesting historical sites dating back to that time, particularly in Chiang Saen on the Mekong River, where a number of structures predate those of Sukhothai; around Lampang one can visit many ancient temples in various styles; at Nan some of the religious edifices go back to the 15th century.
To the south of Bangkok, about two hours by car, lies the old town of Petchburi with both Thai and Khmer ruins as well as several spectacular caves used for worship; of special interest is Wat Yai Suwannaram containing some of the oldest Thai mural paintings that survived, and Wat Kamphaeng Lang, a well-preserved Khmer temple.
For a full list of Thailand’s many archaeological sites, one may contact the National Museum in Bangkok on Na Phra That Rd, Tel 224-1333, 224-1396
Important Provincial Museums
Chao Sam Phaya National Museum
Ayutthaya
Ramkhamhaeng National Museum
Sukhothai Historical Park
Khon Kaen National Museum
Khon Kaen
Phimai National Museum
Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Songkhla National Museum
Wat Machimawat, Songkhla
Chiang Saen National Museum
Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai Province
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