Snake Mountain

Terrain

General Condition

The archaeological site is located in a cave in a limestone mountain known as "Khao Ngu". But at present, by the Cabinet resolutions, there is no longer a rock blast in the snake mountain range.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mae Klong River It is located about 4 kilometers east of the Snake Mountain Range. And about 3.3 kilometers to the northeast, there is a canal Nong Yai. It is about 1.1 km east.

Geological conditions

Snake Mountain is a limestone mountain in the Mae Klong River basin. The geological condition consists of limestone of the Permian Period. 290-248 million years ago of the Ratchaburi Group, commonly known as Ratchaburi limestone. Permian (Permian Ratburi Limestone) limestone features light gray to black. the birth of the cave Caused by erosion of groundwater for a long time. Soil characteristics at the surface of the soil are red sediment and rock fragments of various sizes (Denchoke confident 2007; Department of Mineral Resources 2008)

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Ancient sites on the Snake Mountain It looks like a cave in a limestone mountain. It has been used as a religious place in Theravada Buddhism since the Dvaravati period. Around the 12th century (Yorch Sedes 1929; 1961; Cha-em Kaewklai 1986) or the 13th-14th Buddhist century (Keracha Chatikavanich 2002; Sakchai Saising 2004; Piriya Krairiksh 2010) until the present Important archaeological sites in the area of ​​important Snake Mountains include Tham Rishi, Tham Fa Tho, Tham Chin, and Tham Cham. and the Bell Cave

Important archaeological evidence is the carvings on the walls of the caves of the Dvaravati period, for example, a carved image of a sitting Buddha image hanging over his feet. Between the verses, there are Pallava inscriptions in Sanskrit language in Rishi Cave, a large reclining Buddha image in the attitude of death. In the lid of the cave, a Buddha image sat cross-legged, meditating. Pang preaching a sermon In a Chinese cave, a picture of the Buddha's history during the Yomaka miracle at Savatthi. and the Buddha image in the nirvana posture The oldest in Thailand In Cham Cave (Department of Fine Arts 1991:101) etc. Monogram of King Chulalongkorn (118 (Jor Por Ror.) engraved at the mouth of Tham Rakhang or Bat Cave. In addition, in various caves There are still many sandstone Buddha images in the Ayutthaya period. and the Buddha's Footprint in the Ayutthaya period which is enshrined on the top of the snake mountain, around the 21st - 22nd Buddhist century.

Dvaravati Buddha image carved on the cave wall in Snake Mountain Especially in the Hermit Cave and Tham Fa Tho are similar to those in Ajanta Cave. in Indian art (Sakchai Saising 2004; Phiriya Krairiksh 2010) who lived in the Buddhist century 11

Also The idea of ​​building a religious place inside a cave It may have been influenced by India as well. especially religious places that have penetrated into the mountains or converted caves into religious places Also known as "cetiyasthan", which has been found since ancient India (3rd-6th century AD), especially commonly known as caves during the Gupta period, such as Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, etc., or This may be the reason for the topography and beliefs that have been passed down since the late prehistoric times in the area.

Based on location and contemporary archaeological evidence in the neighborhood. presumably Cave at Snake Mountain in the Dvaravati period May be used as a religious place far away from a community or city in the form of a "forest temple". which is an important city in Dvaravati culture That is about 10 kilometers southeast. Like other cities in Dvaravati culture where religious sites are often found on the hills that are far from the city, such as Khao Samor Khon Cave, Lopburi Province Khao Tamorat Cave, Si Thep City, Phetchabun Province, etc.

in the area not far from Khao Ngu There are also traces of settlements of communities in the Dvaravati period, such as an embankment (which is believed to be an ancient road), a mound that may have been a community area (because many tools and utensils were found, such as pottery, crushed stone). Masonry Temple large stone bell Terracotta Buddha in the sub-district of Koh Phlapphla etc. (The Fine Arts Department 1998:25)