Si Thep City

Terrain

General Condition

Si Thep City consists of both inner and outer cities. Within the city, it looks like a wavy flat. There are ponds and swamps everywhere. The city outside is at the foothill slopes from east to west.

At present, the ancient archaeological sites in the inner city have been excavated and restored almost completely. And within the city, there are no people to settle down.
Most of the cities outside have not been excavated and restored. also people use in agriculture and animal husbandry in some areas The area around Si Thep town was originally a sparse forest, but is now an agricultural area.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Pa Sak River, about 5 kilometers to the west, and the Hieng River. It is a tributary of the Pa Sak River. It is about 8 kilometers south of Si Thep city.

Geological conditions

Si Thep Ancient City in the central highlands In general, there are complex mountain ranges. Positioned in a long line from north to south. starting from Loei, Phetchabun, Saraburi and the south of Nakhon Ratchasima There are continuous undulating hills alternating with high mountains. Important mountain ranges are Phetchabun Mountains In the east of Si Thep city

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

General Conditions and Town Planning Mueang Si Thep is an ancient city that was discovered by Somdej Krom Phraya Damrong Rajanupap and assumed the name of the city of Si Thep. with evidence from the Ayutthaya Chronicle documents Royal Handbook (Wichai Tankittikorn 1992:110; Suraphon Damrihkul 1985:57) is a large city surrounded by ditches, covering an area of ​​approximately 2,889 rai, looks like two overlapping twin cities. Called the inner city and the foreign city.

The city has an area of ​​approximately 1,300 rai, round shape, important and large historical sites, such as the Si Thep Prang, Song Phi Nong Prang, Khao Klang Nai, and about 45 small archaeological sites scattered around 70 ponds and swamps, the most important being the Prang pond. In the north, next to Prang Si Thep The city outside is on the east side of the inner city, with an area of ​​approximately 1,589 rai, with approximately 54 small ancient monuments, with a large pond located north of Sa Kwan.

In addition, outside the city of Si Thep, there are about 50 archaeological sites scattered around, the most important of which are Khao Klang Nok archaeological sites, hermit prang, Khao Klang Ko Kaeo archaeological site. and the ancient site of Khao Tamorat Cave, which is the only archaeological site located on the mountain (Department of Fine Arts 2007 :18-19).

Pattanakarn Srithep Around the ancient city of Si Thep, archaeological evidence is quite dense. Indicates that a community existed from late prehistoric times. The age of the 5-7 Buddhist century, or about 2000 years ago, is a community known for using iron tools. There is a burial tradition Correlation with late prehistoric archaeological sites found in the Lopburi-Pasak River Basin (Suraphon Damrihkul, 1985, 56-58; Thida Saraya 1989 :23-30)

continued until around the Buddhist century 12-16 It has evolved from a small community at the village level to a large community that has built a city surrounded by a moat and an embankment. which is a city in the shape of a circle Archaeological evidence suggests that this period is associated with the first Khmer or Chenla culture. (by Prince Suphatradit Diskul, using evidence from the inscription number k.979, quoted in Oranuch Saeng inscription 1984:14) and Dvaravati culture. which have blended together until a unique artistic style.

Until Buddhist century 16-18 The community at Si Thep has adopted Khmer culture in place of the deteriorating Dvaravati culture. The expansion of the city into a foreign country would occur during this period. There is an ancient site built during this period that is important to determine the age in the 16th Buddhist century, namely Prang Si Thep. and prang two brothers Which traces the transformation of these two Hindu temples into Buddhist temples in Mahayana Buddhism in the early 18th Buddhist century, corresponding to the reign of Jayavarman VII, shortly after, it was assumed that the city of Si Thep was abandoned. from the epidemic because no evidence of living in the soil layer after the 19th Buddhist century downwards (Department of Fine Arts 2007 :38-47; Suraphon Damrikul 1985 :58)

Religion and Belief

From various evidence found at Si Thep city, it is assumed that both Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana and Hinduism Waisanaphanika is respected by the people of Si Thep (Wichai Tankittikorn 1992 :111)

Buddhism Found evidence at Si Thep from around the 11th-13th Buddhist century, including a Gupta-style Indian Buddha image at Khao Klang Nai archaeological site. The inscription of Yethma and many ancient monuments of the Dvaravati period (The Fine Arts Department 2007 :53)

The evidence at Khao Klang Nai may reflect that around the 14th-15th century, Mahayana Buddhism flourished in place of the former Theravada Buddhism. by evidence of the Bodhisattva Sri Ariya meter Age around the 14th Buddhist century (Wichai Tankittikorn 1992 :119)

Later, in the 16th-17th century, there was probably Buddhism in tandem with Hinduism, which is evidenced that it was clearly respected during this period. is a stucco Buddha image in the Khmer style of Baphuon art form at Khao Klang Nai And in the 18th Buddhist century, Si Thep city probably practiced Mahayana Buddhism, which was popularized in the Khmer reign of Jayavarman VII instead of Hinduism. because traces of the burial of Hindu idols were found.

Hinduism Evidence of widespread Hinduism was found at Si Thep during the 16th-17th Buddhist century. Stone inscriptions were found in Khmer, Sanskrit and Khmer languages. Prang Song Phi Nong, Prang Si Thep and Prang Hermit (The Fine Arts Department 2007 :56)

an important ancient site

Khao Klang Nai

Prang two brothers

Prang Srithep

Khao Klang Nok located outside the city at Ban Sprue It is about 2 kilometers north of the city.

It is the name that the villagers originally called. because it is shaped like a large hill It is believed that there are treasures and weapons inside. Also in the ancient city of Si Thep There is a mountain-like ancient site called "Khao Klang Nai"

Khao Klang Nok archaeological site is a stupa-type religious site. Square base made of lang Size 64 meters wide on each side, about 20 meters high from the base to the top. The top is made of bricks. Defective condition determines the age of construction, like Dvaravati culture. It is considered a large Dvaravati art archaeological site. and the most complete in the country From the excavation in the year 2551 found important artifacts. Buddha statue in Dvaravati art Sandstone stamped in the posture of teaching the Dharma (Wikkuk), width 16 cm., height 57 cm., width 16 cm.

Prang Hermit Located inside Wat Pa Sa Kaeo. Outside the northern wall of Si Thep City Architectural characteristics of the main prang in Khmer art style masonry without mortar similar to the pagoda temple Mueang Lopburi District It is assumed that it was built around the 16th Buddhist century. At present, the main pagoda has been restored to the original form because it used to be a school of meditation.

Fine Arts Department excavated in 2008 found the base of the glass wall. Group of laterite buildings in front and south of the main pagoda Found a decorative piece of sandstone lintel architecture with Khmer inscriptions of 8 lines, currently in the process of being read and translated by the Fine Arts Department. and found other types of antiquities such as sculptures of Siwa Lingam, Khonthi, etc.

Important pool

Prang pond It is the most important and largest pool. a rectangular pool The edge of the pool is covered with laterite. located within the city of Si Thep On the north side of Prang Si Thep

Sa Khwan It is a rectangular pool. In the middle of the city, quite northeast of the city outside. The edge of the pool is a high embankment.

Nong Song Hong is located on the east side of the city. It is a large rectangular swamp.

Sa Kaeo It was on the north side outside the outer city walls. Build a high embankment similar to the pond. The top of the embankment is adjusted to a plain (The Fine Arts Department 2007 :76)

Inscription at Si Thep City

Around the city of Si Thep, there were inscriptions in both Pallava and Pallawa characters. Age around the 12th-14th Buddhist century, Khmer characters, around the 15th-16th Buddhist century, and Chinese characters

Sri Thep inscriptions that have been read and translated in all 10 digits are Si Thep City Inscription (K499), Ban Wang Phai Inscription, Yethma Inscription, Si Thep City, inscription on the sculpture base. Ancient inscription number 0996, inscribed on the print. Inscribed on the clay print of Ban Nong Suang Ban Nong Mai So inscription Prang Song Phi Nong inscription 1 and 2 (Department of Fine Arts 2007 :129-143)

From the Si Thep city inscription (K499) mentions the "hermit" leaders and political powers that "The great in both palms" and the inscription of Ban Wang Phai. It was clear that there was already a monarchy system in the city of Si Thep. and may have a relationship with India from outside with the name of the king ending in "Voraman", like the king of Chenla at that time (Tida Saraya 1989 :33-34)

Evidence of inscriptions found at the city of Si Thep. It reflects the prosperity of the ancient city of Sri Thep, which has been transmitted from external civilizations since ancient Indian cultural groups. Dvaravati Culture Group, Chenla to the ancient Khmer culture (Suraphon Damrihkul 1985 :11)

for inscription on the print The front uses Pallava characters. The back uses Chinese characters. This is the first Chinese inscription found in Dvaravati culture. however Scriptures are movable. Therefore, it may not be something that was made in Si Thep. But one thing that is reflected from this print is that it is the junction of monks or travelers of Si Thep City (Tida Saraya 1989 :37).

Antiques

Hindu relics include a sandstone idol of Lord Vishnu wearing a cylindrical hat. Krishna Rodrana statue Set the age in the 11th-12th Buddhist century, the sun idol The age was around the 12th-13th Buddhist century, which was found in Si Thep. Therefore, it is assumed that the city of Si Thep has a sun worship cult. Some of Vishnu's characteristics are wearing an octagonal hat wearing a short jogging There is no attachment between the arm and the head. which may be called the Sri Thep Chang genus Due to the combination of various deities and art forms to form their own characteristics (Kanokwali Suriyatham 2541:20). In addition, many linguists were found in various sizes. Most of them are found at Prang Song Phi Nong and Prang Si Thep. which determines the age of the 17th Buddhist century, as well as the Yoni base and also found a sculpture of Thanaban, Konnati, a lintel, the most complete piece found at Prang Song Phi Nong in the form of Umama Set the age around the 17th Buddhist century, currently at the small prang. Prang two brothers The incomplete piece is at the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. and Chao Sam Phraya National Museum Set the age in the 16-17 Buddhist century, corresponding to the art of the Treasury.

Buddhist antiques, including stucco Buddha images terracotta buddha There are many stone, bronze and clay Buddha images. Most of them are from the ancient site of Khao Klang Nai. and many other small ancient sites Determination of age in Dvaravati art Buddhist century 12-16. In addition, many bronze and stucco Bodhisattvas were found at Khao Klang Nai archaeological site. The carved image on the wall of Thamorat Cave engraved the image of Sri Ariya Maitreya Bodhisattva. Defining the age around the 14th Buddhist century, a large Dvaravati Dharma Chakra is placed in front of Khao Klang in an unknown location. But it is said that it was taken from the historical site of Khao Klang Nok (Department of Fine Arts 2007:162). For the stucco at Khao Klang Nai archaeological site, it is a stucco portrait of a person. animal and flora images Set the age in the 14th Buddhist century, built under Dvaravati culture (Suriyawut Suksawat 1989 :41-48)

Antiques that are tools and utensils such as earthenware, cracked stone axes, polished stone axes, stone-terracotta bracelets. Stone-glass beads, seals, weapons and metal utensils dated from prehistoric to early historical periods. Most were found together with prehistoric archaeological sites that were burial sites such as Ban Nong Daeng Archaeological Site. Ban Kut Ta Rae Archaeological Site Along the Pa Sak River in Si Thep District and within the ancient city of Si Thep (The Fine Arts Department 2007 :168-173)

In addition, there are references on labor, consumption and productivity of people in prehistoric communities in the Upper Chi River Basin. It can be interpreted that Si Thep has a population of 2687, it took about 531 days to dig an inner moat and took about 413 days. in digging a moat outside the city Si Thep population consumed 489054 kilograms of rice, of which Si Thep can produce about 259078 kilograms of rice, so there is still a demand for rice in the city for about 229976 kilograms, which is probably from the area outside the ancient city of Si Thep. such as the west side, which is a plain along the Pa Sak River and its tributaries or on the north and south sides where there is currently farming (“New information from Sri Thep” 1989 :27-28)