Ban Pong Ta Khop

Terrain

General Condition

this archaeological site It looks like a hilly area in a wavy and undulating area. East of the Pa Sak River The mound of the archaeological site in Ban Pong Takhob School It is located on the edge of a natural waterway with its headwaters in the mountains on the southeast side of the archaeological site. flows down the gorge through the undulating area at the foot of the hill, including the hillside of Ban Pong Ta Khop archaeological site It then flows further west. through Wang Muang district Therefore, it is called Huai Wang Muang. It then continues to flow west until it drains into the Pa Sak River.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Pa Sak River, Huai Wang Muang

Geological conditions

It looks like a hilly area in a wavy and undulating area. East of the Pa Sak River west of the Korat Plateau The base stone is Permian limestone.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Scientific age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Ban Pong Takhob Archaeological Site covers an area of ​​not less than 15 rai, with part of the archaeological site in the area of ​​the present Ban Pong Takhob School. While most of the archaeological site is the area of ​​the people in the village. which uses the area to grow corn and sugar cane fields At the soil surface level of the archaeological site are densely scattered artifacts.

Information from the survey found important types of antiques, including Pottery fragments decorated with rope pattern Pottery fragments decorated with red clay paint. small stone ax and fragments of bracelets made of white marble. In addition, several animal bone fragments such as cattle-buffaloes, barking deer, and pigs were also found. Information from Assoc. Prof. Suraphon Nathapindu's excavations found important archaeological evidence ( Suraphon Nathapindu 2009; Suraphon Nathapinthum, M.A.; Nitipat Kaewprasit 2013 :20) as follows:

1. Remnants of earthenware, such as earthenware decorated with rope-patterned patterns. The pottery is decorated with scribbles in curved lines mixed with press patterns and stamps to make a continuous dot pattern. look like fish scales The pottery is decorated with short red lines or red dots.

2. Polishing stone tools, including small axes. A stone shard broken from a polished stone ax.

3.Beads are made of sea shells. beads made of white marble and body shells

4.Ecological relics include the bones of land and aquatic animals such as the teeth and bones of pigs, barking deer, cattle, buffaloes, monkeys and dogs, as well as a large number of different types of shells and tortoiseshells.

5. Traces of human activities consist of activities according to traditions, beliefs, livelihood and living In the excavation hole No. 1, two important traces were found, indicating that the burial traditions of the ancient people at Ban Pong Takhob archaeological site. which was found for the first time in Thailand It is the burial of the deceased in a rectangular pit that is approximately 30 centimeters deep and uses an average layer of clay about 1 centimeter thick as the walls of the tomb on all 4 sides, similar in appearance to a coffin. by placing the body in a lying position There is a necklace of beads made of shells worn on the neck. Then a pottery was laid for dedication to the deceased. It is placed above the head and toes of the deceased. and placed 2 terrazzo axes on the right thigh of the deceased.

In excavation pit number 3, three skeletons were found buried on top of each other. can be separated into adult skeleton It may be a male, one skeleton placed on top, next to it is a teenage skeleton. Sex is unknown, one skeleton and one skeleton at the bottom is a juvenile skeleton, beside and under the right leg of the uppermost skeleton. There were 3 iron tools placed as a dedication to the corpse, divided into 1 bong ax, 1 spear blade, and 1 hook knife at the left-hand side of the skeleton's grave. There were no less than 5 earthenware vessels placed as dedication items, and at the foot there was 1 earthenware container.

Assoc. Prof. Suraphon Nathapinthoo (MPA) stated that Ban Pong Takhob School Archaeological Site is one of the large habitats of the late prehistoric people. Many of the artifacts found at Ban Pong Takhob are the same as before. It has been found at many late prehistoric archaeological sites in central Thailand. and some have been excavated.

Research project Conducted by Assoc. Prof. Suraphon Nathapindu, samples of charcoal in the 3rd excavation were sent to determine the age at the University of Waikato's Radiocarbon Dating Lab oratory, New Zealand. The results were 1,618 +/- 30, or between 1,648– 1,578 years ago (Suraphon Nathapintho, MPA)

In summary, Ban Pong Takhob archaeological site is an ancient community with traces of settlements and evidence of prehistoric burials. Metal Age or Late Prehistoric The living and burial areas are located close to each other. The culture can be divided into 3 sub-periods.

Subculture 1, about 3,300 years ago, important evidence is Grave burials are plastered on the walls of the 2nd subculture, about 2,900 years ago, and the third subculture, about 1600 years ago, the main evidence of the 2nd and 3rd sub-generations is burial in the grave.