Mahakan Fort

Terrain

General Condition

Located on the edge of the canal around the city near the foot of Phan Fa Lilat Bridge The next city wall is along Mahachai Road. It is an ancient that has been well maintained. Surrounding is a garden for recreation. and Fort Mahakan community who live in the fort area since the beginning of Rattanakosin.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Chao Phraya River, Khlong Rob Krung, Khlong Saen Saep

Geological conditions

Holocene sediments

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Mahakan Fort was built because of His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great. When he ascended to the throne as the first king of the Chakri dynasty in 1782, he was graciously pleased to to dig a ditch for the construction of the city wall The Grand Palace and the Bowon Sathan Mongkhon Palace in 1783, during the construction of the walls of the Grand Palace, a fortress was built to protect the city from time to time. Around Bangkok, 14 forts are Phra Sumen Fort, Yukonthorn Fort, Maha Prap Fort, Mahakan Fort, Mu Luang Fort, Suea Thayan Fort, Mahachai Fort, Chakphet Fort, Butterfly Fortress, Mahareek Fort, Mahayak Fort, Phrachan Fort, Phra Athit Fort. and Fort Isinthorn (The Fine Arts Department 2021), with Fort Mahakan in the east of Bangkok. and did not appear to have a boss's palace in the fort Assuming that there may already be the former boss's palace.

In 1928, before the change of government The Royal Academy has notified the Ministry of Interior. The Mahakan Fort was reserved as an ancient monument for the nation. Later, in 1935, the Fine Arts Department asked the Municipal Public Works Department to help maintain it. When it came to the Bangkok Municipality in 1938, the Mayor of Bangkok informed the Fine Arts Department that There was a request for renting the Mahakan Fort to be a royal palace. by ensuring that nothing will be built on this fort Fine Arts Department has considered saw that the Mahakan Fort was not a sacred place of worship and when the applicant for the rental guarantee will help repair the place as well Seeing that there is no damage, it is allowed according to the proposed municipality. But there was a problem, so did not enter into the lease at that time. Until November 18, 1949, the Fine Arts Department announced the registration of the Mahakan Fort as a national historic site. under the Act on Antiques and Objects of Art and the National Museum 2477 B.E.

Along the wall from Mahakan Fort, there was still a completely remaining area of ​​the wall. (The area at the edge of the wall is the area extending from the city wall into the river or canal and moat. It is an area where raft boats are parked as a port. and people come to live and build houses around the city) is an area that used to be a port and the houses of the people have been in the community for a long time especially this community There are also ancient houses There is a corridor that connects with each other. The outskirts of the city wall used to be a port for nobles and lords who traveled along the canals into the city and out of the city. Because it is the area that will continue to other places such as along the Maha Nak Canal, Khlong Saen Saep and Khlong Ong Ang to other surrounding communities. This community on the outskirts of the city wall of Fort Mahakan is a group that has been in existence for more than 50 years, blending with people who have lived since the reign of King Rama III, who are still building old houses. There is Wat Thepthidaram and Wat Ratchanaddaram It is the center of religious ceremonies and beliefs. Including there is a shrine located at the Mahakan Fort as a place to worship the people in the community.

Architectural Characteristics
Mahakan Fort is a large octagonal fort. Measured from the outer foundation on the north side to the base on the south side, width 38 meters, height from the ground to the tip of the parapet 4.90 meters, and 15 meters from the ground to the roof of the fort. The foundation is below the soil surface level. It is a 3-storey fort with stairs leading up to the 1st and 2nd floors. Except for the curly wall that extends from the second floor fortress wall, it looks like a pointed parapet like the city wall. The top floor of the fortress looks like an octagonal tower. There is one entrance door, two-tiered thatched roof that resembles a bonnet or lotus leaf. At the ground floor fort, there are 6 cannons stationed in the parapet. The city wall following Mahakan Fort along Mahachai Road It looks like a wall with a parapet. The sharp-pointed sema leaves, 180 meters long, were cut into 4 intervals. The long wall has 3 arched doors under the parapet, and on both sides of the door is a staircase leading to the terrace on the wall. In 1981, the Fine Arts Department renovated the fort and city ​​wall On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Rattanakosin's celebration and the concrete parapet was built to connect the broken walls together in the same way.

The Great Fort and all the city walls have been restored and repainted several times. because it is located in the community There are always city guests and tourists passing by. During the government of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat as Prime Minister There was also a light for illuminating the fort to make it look beautiful at night. The image of Fort Mahakan used to be printed on 10 baht banknotes during the present reign for a while. When the lanterns are decorated on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday as well as other special occasions Mahakan Fort is always beautifully decorated. Because it is a fort that looks elegant. Located on Ratchadamnoen Road, which is the main road of Phra Nakhon.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces Development Command will continue to improve the area of ​​Fort Mahakan and Fort Mahakan Community Park, therefore coordinating with the Fine Arts Department and World Heritage Company Limited to conduct archaeological excavations in 2004 before renovating the area.

Important archaeological evidence (Kannikar Sutheerattanapirom 2019)

Fort Mahakan is a fortress built during the reign of King Rama I. Along with the city wall from archaeological excavations on the side of the Mahakan Fort and behind the city wall The following important evidence was found:

1. Foundation of Mahakan Fort

The foundation of the outer fortress wall was found to be a load-bearing wall structure using stacked bricks. and has a superposition hierarchy as follows:

The bottom layer is filled with small broken bricks mixed with half broken bricks. This layer has a thickness of about 50 cm.

The next layer is filled with many broken bricks and crushed bricks. This layer is about 50 - 60 cm thick.

Then fill it with half broken bricks. Crushed bricks and shavings make this layer extremely hard. This layer is about 30 - 40 cm thick.

2. Area overlapping hierarchy

Range 1 It is a period where there is no human habitation. It is a natural empty area along the river. Aged before the establishment of the Rattanakosin era Characteristics of the soil layer is fine-grained clay. There are a few orange dots. and did not find any traces of evidence that shows the use of human living space

Range 2 It was the period of first living in the area during the early Rattanakosin period. because they found a large number of fragments of earthenware and earthenware In addition, it was found that at the edge of the Mahakan Fort, soil was dug down to fill the rubble and prepare the area and make the foundation structure for the Mahakan Fort during the reign of King Rama I.

Range 3 It is a period of continuous living after the reign of King Rama I. After the construction of Mahakan Fort was completed during this period, many ancient artifacts were found, such as fragments of clay pottery, tough texture, tile texture, classified as local pottery, Chinese wares. and Japanese wares This area used to have people's houses and courtiers' houses.

Range 4 It is a period of residence that is not more than 100 years old. Originally, it was found that this area was the residence of the civil servants. There is a wooden house, there is a market Including being the Phrayayan Prajak Pier, there is a 1-storey western-style building that used to be a port during the reign of King Rama V. 6For bosses and civil servants who will go to Sa Pathum Palace The nearby Saen Saep canal is also a port for loading and unloading ships, calling Zhang Wang Em Port as a people's port.

Range 5 It was the last period of use before the excavation was when wooden and cement buildings were replaced. Found the cement floor and the SEC. After that, the cement building was demolished. and the houses of the current Pom Mahakan community have replaced them.