Wat Sao Suwan

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Sao Suwannaram is located in the municipality of Wiang Kuk Subdistrict. which is the area of ​​the ancient city of Wiang Kuk in the past The nature of the area is a mound on the plains along the banks of the Mekong River caused by the deposition of sediments. The north side of Wiang Khuk is adjacent to Huai Khuk and the Mekong River in the river bank. (Huai Kuk flows through the city's north side, runs parallel to the Mekong River before crossing south at the western side of the city). The surrounding area is agricultural and farming area (except for the north side adjacent to the Mekong River).

Wat Sao Suwannaram is located at the northern end of the city. Currently, it is almost adjacent to Huai Khuk and the Mekong River. Away from Huai Kuk, just a barrier road. (40 meters south of Huai Kok, about 200 meters south of the Mekong River)

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mekong River, Huai Cook

Geological conditions

Mekong River sediment deposition during the Holocene period

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Sao Suwannaram It is now a Rat temple. Affiliated with Maha Nikaya The history of the temple indicates that it was built in 1927 and was granted Wisung Kham Sima in 1985. It is located in the Wiang Khuk area. This is an ancient city with evidence of inhabitants since the Dvaravati, Khmer and Lan Xang periods.

From past studies, it is assumed that Originally, this temple was built during the reign of King Chai Chetthathirat. of the Lan Xang Kingdom, around 2200 BC, by which he had given ten thousand Kanghong to bring his family to migrate from Roi Et to set up their homes here. Then to build two temples by allowing him to use the names of his two daughters as the temple name, Wat Kusonnaree for the big daughter. and Wat Sao Suwannaram for the youngest daughter When completed, the two daughters have always been patronizing.

In 1969, Ajarn Sanguan Boonrod surveyed Wat Sao Suwannaram and found a relic, 6 meters wide, laterite, 1 meter high, 50 centimeters wide, with carvings of deities or Bodhisattvas and Nang Panya Baramee. In addition, another relic or old chedi and 1 Mondop were found.

Archaeological evidence found from the survey of the Sirindhorn Anthropology Center in September 2014, including:

Relics Located in the front on the left (Northeast side) of the chapel, outside the glass wall, perfect condition, looks like a relic or a brick pagoda square lotus shape in a square plan which is a popular style in Lan Xang The pagoda sits on a chopping block base and the base of a chicken breast lotus flower that is not very high. (The base of the chopping board on the lowest floor is approximately 6 meters wide on each side). Next up is a square lotus-shaped chedi with slender tops. At the lower corners of the bell, all four corners are decorated with lotus petals with bent ends. As for the top of the relics, there are inverted lotuses, chicken breast crystals, upturned lotuses, and replica bells stacked lower. Continue with the top part The total height is about 8.2 meters. It was popular in Lan Xang art around the 22nd-24th Buddhist century (Praphat Chuwichian 2014).

Square lotus-shaped pagoda (octagon) located in front on the right (Southeast side) of the chapel, outside the glass wall, perfect condition, looks like a brick and plaster chedi. The octagonal lotus shape is popular in Lan Xang. Characteristics of the base, the lowest floor, octagon shape, stacked 2 layers, next up is the base, the inverted lotus, the bell body, octagonal shape, the end of the neck is slender. The upper part is the sprout. The total height is about 5 meters. The pedestal of the crystal ball lotus is supported by a lotus-like top in the octagonal chart. Age can be determined in the Lan Xang period. Age around the 22nd-24th Buddhist century (Prapat Chuwichian 2014)

The area around this pagoda There are 4 old pagoda fragments, 2 of which are round lobes, 2 round brick fragments, one of which has a lotus-shaped stucco on the outside.

Mondop and Sema The Mondop is located in the front on the left. (Northeast side) of the Ubosot, outside the glass wall, next to the relics (On the west side of the relics) looks like a small brick building. square layout About 2.5 meters wide on each side, about 2 meters high, with an entrance on the north side. by punching a door The west wall has a light channel decorated with stucco designs depicting a serpent with a furrowed tail. At present, the mandap is painted yellowish white. The serpent painted orange

Inside the mandop, there were very dense fragments of modern idols. (According to the history within the mondop, there are many pieces of Naga Buddha images) and 1 piece of red sandstone parapet, similar in appearance to the Dvaravati Sema leaf. Carved into a figure of a person dressed in Khmer art, that is, wearing a short Sompot robe. There is a semicircular hem in the front. wearing a siraporn as a visor in the process of walking There is an image of a bird flying in front of the arch. It may be a religious narrative at one point or another. Comparable to the Khmer art of the Angkor Wat-Bayon period, aged around the 17th-18th Buddhist century (Prapat Chuwichian 2014).

As for other red sandstone sema pieces that were discovered by Sanguan Boonrawd in 1969, they were not found in this survey.