hump persimmon

Terrain

General Condition

Khok Plub Archaeological Site is a large mound on an area of ​​​​9 rai. It has an oval shape. Long along the north - south (or northeast - southwest) this mound about 4 meters higher than the surrounding area It was originally an abandoned mound until 1977 when an irrigation canal was dug through the middle of the mound. and found many artifacts The Fine Arts Department therefore proceeded to conduct an archaeological excavation in November of the same year (Sod Red Aid 1978K:19-20)

Most of the current Khok Persimmon archaeological site has been destroyed. by digging an irrigation canal through the middle of the hill Digging out the land to sell and modifying land for agriculture such as rice fields and shrimp ponds. As a result, the mound is smaller and archaeological evidence is destroyed.

Current archaeological mound divided into 2 parts is the north side area and the south side area There is an irrigation canal that flows through the middle of the hill as a divider (a canal about 10 meters wide, dug in 1977) along both sides of the canal. There is always a road parallel. The road on the north side is a paved road. The south side of the road is a gravel road.

Area on the north side of the hill At present, it is a dumping and incineration site of Pho Hak Subdistrict Municipality. The south side of the mound was excavated from the excavation of large shrimp ponds and farming areas.

Around the mounds are low-lying areas and ponds for agriculture such as fields and fish ponds

This area is in the lower plains of the Mae Klong River and Tha Chin River (Kok Plub Archaeological Site). Located away from Tha Chin River. to the west about 18.5 kilometers and away from the Mae Klong River to the east about 24 kilometers) near the archaeological mound There is a creek that is a tributary of a large river flowing through many streams.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Boat hull, Golden hull, Tamarind hull, Hua Khoi hull, plank hull, Damnoen Saduak canal

Geological conditions

Khok Plub Archaeological Site It is located in the floodplain area in the Mae Klong and Tha Chin River basins. which was caused by the deposition of sediments in the Quaternary period. period) the soil characteristics are a thick layer of clay (clay) There are gray and gray-green. There is a layer of sand inserted periodically. Some shells were found in the soil layer.

This area is flooded every year. Due to the influence of sea water pushed into the mouth of the Mae Klong River and the Tha Chin River. including Damnoen Saduak Canal

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Khok Plub Archaeological Site It looks like a natural mound that has been deposited until it rises up from the late prehistoric human activities. Especially the activities of living, subsistence and burial, date back about 3,000-2,000 years ago. The ancient cultural layer is about 2 meters thick.

Evidence and archaeological data

Settlement and livelihood

The ancient community at Khok Plub Archaeological Site It is characterized by permanent settlements as large communities on the hills. Surrounded by marshes and creeks that are branches of the Great River. which is beneficial to life especially consumption - consumption Agriculture (eg rice planting because rice husks are found in clay pots) and transportation

In addition to cultivating plants The ancient people of Khok persimmon lived by raising animals (eg cows, buffaloes, pigs, dogs, etc.), hunting (eg wild boars, deer, barking deer, clams, crabs, fish, turtles, etc.), and foraging for wildlife.

Settlement in the ancient community at Khok Plub There may be areas for activities within the community. What is clearly seen is residential area and the cemetery area

Tools, appliances and technology

Most of the pottery vessels found were small. Roughly molded by hand, round bottom, shaped like a pedestal. Small earthenware containers similar to small clay vessels found in many archaeological sites in Ratchaburi province. It is assumed that it may be a container used to contain minerals. for sale or measure May be used to mix proportions of ore to be cast or smelted. The special pottery is a round container small, narrow mouth, no edge of the mouth The outer surface is decorated with zigzag patterns interspersed with small dots. more refined than other pottery It is not yet known exactly what kind it was made for. (Not found in the tomb) (Somchai Na Nakhon Phanom 1991:75)

bangles They are made of bronze, stone, animal bones, shells, and tortoise shells. important include A flat stone bangle made of slate. There is a border on the inside. When viewed from the cutting side, it is shaped. T is the most common type. and may be a prototype of a bronze bracelet later too (Somchai Na Nakhon Phanom 1991:75) shell bracelets There are both made from clams and sea shells. clam type Some of the bracelets made from the turtle's thorax resemble a six-pointed star with a pointed tip that may be worn on certain occasions. because it is likely to be easily broken Such bracelets are similar to those found in archaeological sites. Laung at the mouth of the Irrawaddy River dates to the Late Neolithic period (Sod Daeng Iad 1978K:26).

earrings or earrings of various sizes Popularly made from serpentinite stone. (Serpentinite It is a fine-grained rock composed of serpentine minerals, often green in color similar to jade. but some have black) that are green like jade and intentionally chose a stone with mica in it May cause a beautiful luster (Somchai Na Nakhon Phanom 1991:75). There are also earrings made of carnelian stone. (Carnelian) Orange and made of shells For earrings with serpentinite and carnelian stones. The source of raw materials was not found in Ratchaburi province. Therefore, it may be a rare item and can be obtained by trading with other communities. From the style of stone earrings similar to Chinese earrings made during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-221 BC) (Srisakorn Vallibodom 1978).

Beliefs and Rituals

The beliefs and rituals of the ancient people at Khok Persimmon are clearly buried. By when there are deaths Relatives or people in the community would dig holes in the ground in the cemetery area. It is a rectangular, rounded or oval-shaped hole. Then the body of the deceased was placed in the bottom of the pit. by placing the body in a stretched supine position Both arms are placed close to the body. Most of them turned their heads to the north. Buried objects dedicated to the deceased including tools, appliances, jewelry and may include various foods These dedications such as animal parts (shellfish, crab, fish, dog, cattle, buffalo, deer, barking deer, pigs, tigers, deer barking deer), pottery of various sizes and shapes. Polished stone tools, beads (made of bone and semi-precious or colored stones), bracelets (made of bronze, stone, animal bones, shells and tortoise shells), earrings. The corpses' chests were made of bronze, iron and animal bones, among others. Red clay was sometimes sprinkled on the corpse's chest.

Important graves such as

- Skeleton number 8, right wrist wears a bracelet made of tortoise shell, 6-pointed star shape

- skeleton number 12 The deceased were in their teens. Wear bracelets on both sides, 3 rings on each side, with beads made of green and gray semi-precious stones around the neck. Also found a bead made of animal bone in the neck.

- skeleton number 25 The right wrist wears a large six-pointed star-shaped bracelet made of quartz, one ring. There is a bead of semi-precious stones on the neck of various colors. Earrings made of carnelian stone. Above the head there is an earthenware container with cockles. Also, there are many cockle shells piled up in the same area.

- skeleton number 31 Put on both earrings, one of which is a gray stone earring. The other side is a brown stone earring. Above the right shoulder stood a serrated-necked earthenware vessel. Red clay was sprinkled over the corpse. (Sprinkling the soil on the corpse Also found in the archaeological artillery center. Lopburi Province Tham Phra Archaeological Site Kanchanaburi)

- skeleton number 35 He wears a pair of stone earrings, and a green stone bracelet on his left arm. A small clay cup was placed on the palm of his right hand. Around the neck were found many stone beads. On the body are sea shells. Above the skull was a dog's skull. Found at Ban Chiang Archaeological Site Udon Thani Province)

- skeleton number 39 Found a round-bottomed bowl-shaped earthenware laying over the skull.

Social conditions

Finding a cemetery area separated from the residential area Demonstrates the management of space within the community. and may imply the presence of a governing body or a social or belief organization as a framework for organizing the use of space in the community.

In addition, different objects are consecrated in the tomb. both in quantity and quality It may represent differences in status between individuals. Such status can be one aspect such as economic, social, political, governmental, belief, and emotional status of a person.

These reflect that Social characteristics of the ancient community at Khok Plub may not be an egalitarian society (Non-egalitarian society)

People in the community

Skeletons excavated in 1977 and 2010 include females, males, and children. However, no physical anthropological studies of those skeletons have yet been found.

Environment

The past environment of Khok Plub ancient community In general, it may be similar to today, that the community is located on a large upland or mound. surrounded by marshes and basins including mounds of various sizes There is a creek that is a branch of a large river flowing through many lines. The next area has forests. It was found that about 3,000 years ago, the coast of Ratchaburi Province was closer to the Khok Plub archaeological site than today. Until it can be said that in the past Khok Plub ancient community in the past Organized as a coastal community

Connecting with external communities

antiques from the sea Especially cockles found in the lower soil layer. May point to familiarity with the sea Until the resources from the sea can be used for good living of the people of the late prehistoric Khok persimmon. because it is a community that is not far from the sea From a study of coastal conditions about 3,000 years ago, it was found that the coast of Ratchaburi Province is closer to Khok Plub archaeological site than today.

some antiques Especially antiques made from foreign materials such as semi-precious stones or colored stones for making jewelry. may demonstrate contact with outside communities both near and far both directly and through other communities, such as communities in the central plains of Thailand coastal community Community in the Irrawaddy River Basin communities in China, Vietnam and India, etc. The contact route may be both land and sea.