Sanam Chai MRT Station

Terrain

General condition

At present, Sanam Chai Road is still in use. asphalt road condition And there is a Sanam Chai MRT station. located below Sanam Chai Road North of Charoen Rat 31 Bridge Intersection or Pak Khlong Talat (The confluence of Sanamchai Road, Maharat Road, Rajini Road, Atsadang Road and Chakphet Road) in front of Wat Ratchabophit School, Museum Siam and behind Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkalaram.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Chao Phraya River, Khlong Khu Mueang Doem

Geological conditions

Holocene sediments

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Sanam Chai Road is located to the east of the Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, starting from the City Pillar Shrine to the south. Ends at Charoen Rat 31 Bridge, Khlong Khu Mueang Doem Pak Khlong Talat area by the area of ​​the archaeological excavation and excavation project in the construction area of ​​Sanam Chai BTS Station Located on Sanam Chai Road from the intersection of Phra Phiphit Road to the end of Sanam Chai Road The former canal area (Pak Khlong Talat and Rajini School)

The area of ​​the archaeological excavation and excavation project, the construction site of the Sanam Chai subway station is approximately 300 meters long, and on both sides of Sanam Chai Road, the project area has adjacent sites at present. As follows:North connects to Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkalaram Ratchaworawihan, Phra Phiphit Road and Department of Territorial Defense, south contact with the former canal moat Charoen Rat Bridge 31 and Rajini School, east contact with Wat Ratchabophit School, west contact with Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkalaram Rajaworawihan, National Institute of Learning Museum Siam and Royal Palace Police Station

Sanam Chai Road is an important historical road. Build a connection in the area in Phra Nakhon Initially built as a dirt road Later paved with bricks (Pipat Phongrapeeporn 2004:11) appeared since the establishment of Bangkok as the capital of Thailand. It is a road along the eastern wall of the Grand Palace. When it was first built, this road was called "Road in front of Chakkrawat Wang Luang" in the style of Ayutthaya is the field in front of the Chakraphachaiyon Throne Hall This is a place for government officials and people to attend important royal ceremonies of the country.

Sanam Chai Road is one of eight roads, namely Chakkrawat Wang Luang Road. (Current Sanam Chai Road) Chakkrawat Wangna Road (Currently Ratchadamnoen Road), Na Rong Mai Road, Phra Chan Road, Na Wat Phra That Road, Tha Khun Nang Road, Tai Wang Road, Lak Muang Road. It was not built for transportation. if it is a sacred element of the capital Used in royal ceremonies only (Pipat Pongrapeeporn 2547:11), which has a model from Ayutthaya that was the reign of King Mongkut. Please use this space as a military training ground and parade. and also asked to build a pavilion for royal residence and souvenirs to the royal family and courtiers Therefore, please change the name of this place as appropriate as "Sanam Chai", the road that cuts through this area is therefore called "Sanam Chai Road" (Sansanee Weerasilchai 1997 :53-54)

In 2014, the archaeological excavation and excavation project at the construction site of the MRT Sanam Chai Station has taken up It is an archaeological excavation project in the construction area of ​​the MRT Blue Line Extension (Hua Lamphong - Tha Phra) by CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited and Northern Sun (1935) Company Limited.

Important archaeological evidence

This archaeological excavation has divided the excavation area into 5 zones:

Zone 1, the pedestrian area on the side of Museum Siam

Zone 2 on the sidewalk on the side of Wat Ratchabophit School

Zone 3 in the area of ​​Wat Ratchabophit School

Zone 4, at the former moat canal area

Zone 5 in the area in Museum Siam

From the excavations found traces of ancient sites in every area, some lines can tell the function of use. Some genres can't identify their use. Ancient lines that can identify important uses are as follows:

1. Pathway around Phra Chetuphon Temple

The walkway around Phra Chetuphon Temple is laid with bricks arranged in weave patterns and laid with only one layer of bricks. The ground floor of the walkway will be filled with soil mixed with broken bricks and sludge. This filling floor should have been built in the reign of King Rama III when the Phra Chetuphon Temple was renovated. Later, all walkways were filled with soil mixed with broken bricks. and then re-paved the floor with rectangular pink sandstone. From an old photograph from 1946, this sandstone walkway has been found.

2. drainage gutter in the reign of King Rama V

The drainage gutter was found made of bricks. Positioned along the road from the area in front of Phra Chetuphon Temple (about 2.80 meters away from the front of Phra Chetuphon Temple) to the Royal Palace Police Station. Placed parallel to each other in 2 lines
Using rectangular wooden needles, approximately 15 - 20 centimeters wide, arranged in a row to form the outer frame of the rail line. By pinning about 20 centimeters apart, then bricks close to the ridge of the wood inside. By taking the long ridge of bricks erected in a longitudinal line, stacked 4 layers until the head (about 40 centimeters high) and filled it with soil mixed with broken bricks, 20 centimeters thick soil layer, then formed a rail consisting of a wall, a trough, and a manhole. The drainage trough is 20 centimeters wide, and the sump is 0.40x1x1 meter.

It is assumed that this drainage gutter was part of the first Thai public utility system during the reign of King Rama V by the Department of Sanitation. From the document said that in October 1903, the Department of Sanitation hired a French technician, Mr. De La Rotaire. Study the area and plan for the establishment of a public health system and have a sanitary management, wastewater transfer within the city for the health of the Siamese population at that time. So that the country is orderly and not dirty, which is the cause of the epidemic.

Mr. De La Rotaire's operation describes road and gutter characteristics found in pre-design surveys in the “Report on Roads and Cleanliness in Bangkok Areas”. At that time, it was a brick trench on both sides of the road, the width and depth were different in each area. some open spaces Some grooves cover the top with bricks. And Mr. De La Rotaire suggested that the drainage ditch should be open to facilitate stripping of the drain and that it should be masonry with cement throughout the line.

3. Sanamchai Road

Sanam Chai Road was excavated in front of Phra Chetuphon Temple, Sangkhawat District. The road foundation was prepared by laying large bricks, approximately 20x40x15 centimeters, laid horizontally, arranged in a weave courtyard. Alternate two short sides, arranged 1 - 3 layers, varying at each point, then filled with compacted bricks until solid and smoothed the top surface. This crushed brick layer is about 10 cm thick.

In his "Report on Roads and Cleanliness in Bangkok Areas" by Mr. De La Rotaire, who came to work for the Department of Sanitation in 1903, it was concluded that soil in Bangkok is characterized by Wet all the time, difficult to stabilize the road. The nature of the road in those days was the way to build a road to lay the bricks in order or put the stone down by the bricks used, even if it was a good brick. But the brick was easily damaged, shattered into powder, causing the road to collapse easily and the surface was uneven, causing the road to be repaired often. The form of Sanamchai Road found can be compared to the Sao Chingcha Road and Bamrung Muang Road. which is the main road of Rattanakosin Therefore, it is assumed that Sanam Chai Road Probably the same age as Bamrung Muang Road and Sao Chingcha Road during the reign of King Rama V. 4 at least

4. The entrance-exit floor in front of the cavalry barn

The entrance and exit path was found in front of Wat Ratchabophit, originally this area used to be a cavalry barn. The edge of the walkway is lined with bricks on its side. Size of the pavement is 190 cm wide.
Two floors overlap, the ground floor is paved with half bricks, the upper floor is paved with bricks measuring 13x26x4 cm in weave pattern, and the edges are built with bricks on both sides.

The style of this entrance and exit is the same as the entrance to Wat Phra Chetuphon. From a map of Bangkok in 1907, it was found that this corridor was in the same position as the entrance and exit of the cavalry barn.

5. Foundations of the Krom Muen Prachaksinlapakhom Palace Building

Found a brick line on the sidewalk in front of Wat Ratchabophit School. expected to be the foundation of the building Made of bricks with mortar, 10 meters long, 2 meters wide. Some of the bricks were destroyed, some were destroyed by the installation of water pipes.

The foundations of this building were found. Brick and mortar along the length of the building that runs along Sanam Chai Road may be a building or a family house along the road, which serves as the wall of the Krom Muen Prachaksinlapakhom Palace. Bok in the reign of King Rama VI and this building is still being used continuously. until it no longer appears in the photograph after 1928.

6. Rajini Road (formerly) in the reign of King Rama V

Rajini Road is a brick lined road. The curb of the road is made of bricks with a long ridge facing each other parallel to the former moat canal. Under the pavement there are 2 rows of horizontal brick foundations.

Rajini Road was built around 1872 during the reign of King Rama V. The excavated road is believed to be the first road built later, with reinforced concrete slab poured over it.

7. Cast iron pipe (water supply line)

From archaeological excavations, several cast iron pipes were found along Sanam Chai Road, Rajini Road, Maharat Road. The cast iron pipes found were 6 inches in diameter and 16 inches in diameter
65 - 90 depth from the soil surface. cm

From the study of historical documents, it was found that the Thailand's "Bangkok Waterworks" project started around 1909. The Department of Sanitation hired Mr. De La Rotaire to survey and arrange raw water sources to produce tap water.
and operates laying the foundation for water supply In the early construction was buried. “Cast Iron Pipes” to deliver water to the localities that distribute water throughout the city before expanding to the outer city