Wat Pho Ta Church

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Pho Ta Church is an archaeological site in the group of Wat Pho Ta - Son-in-law. which is a group of ancient sites in the plains area of ​​the northern ridge of Phu Phra Bat The area surrounding the ancient site is a forest.

The condition of the source is a large stone shed located on the south side of Wat Pho Ta, with a width of 2.5 meters, a length of 10.5 meters, and a height of 1.85 meters from the ground. And under the stone shed on the east side, there is also a room to enshrine a Buddha image (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :96)

Phu Phra Bat is a small sandstone mountain. A child in the Phu Phan mountain range or Phu Phan Kham. The average height above sea level is about 320-350 meters. The west of the mountain is steep. and cant descend to the east.

Phu Phan or Phu Phan Kham is a sandstone mountain range that lies in the north-south direction. in the west of Udon Thani Province and Sakon Nakhon Basin

The general condition of Phu Phra Bat is sparse forest. There are natural vegetation types such as hardwood trees, maka wood, red wood, Ching Chang wood, Pradu wood, and deciduous dipterocarp trees. On Phu Phra Bat, there are many open stone terraces, rocks and sandstone sheds scattered around. caused by the action of water and wind on the sandstone.

Because there are quite a lot of hardwood covered. Together with many other natural plants, Phu Phra Bat is classified in the National Reserved Forest Area, “Pah Khuean Nam”, and is the source of many streams such as Huai Hin Lat, Huai Dan Yai, Huai Hin Rong, Huai Nang Usa and Huai Khok Khat. which flows into the east, confluence with the Mekong River at Tha Bo District Nong Khai Province

The plains surrounding the mountains are mainly cultivated for rice and cassava. The eastern valley of Phu Phra Bat is the largest valley characterized by undulating plains. Most of the area is cultivated for rice and cassava. This valley is commonly known as Lup Phan.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Huai Hin Lat, Huai Dan Yai, Huai Hin Rong, Huai Nang Usa, Huai Khok Khad, Huai Mong, Mekong River

Geological conditions

Phu Phra Bat is a sandstone hill. Phu Phan rock group of Korat rock group Cretaceous period, 140-66.5 million years old, in the Phu Phan Noi mountain range The western edge of the plateau Found a thick layer of sandstone. and gravel sand And the oblique level is generally different shapes. formed from sandstone and gravel sand have different texture The highly durable rock layers protrude into rock sheds. or a layer of rock overlaid on top The less durable rock layers will erode. or being eroded or is a concave part under the hard rock Become a rock shed or a rocky cliff such as Hor Nang Usa, etc.

Phu Phra Bat is a sandstone hill. in the Phu Phan Noi mountain range at the edge of the western plateau of Udon Thani Sandstone is white, orange, pebbled, grit consists of quartz, chert, red talc. some igneous rocks with traces There are shale and gravel interspersed. It is in the Phu Phan rock unit, Korat series, in the lower - mid-Cretaceous period, or about 90-140 million years ago. The sandstone in the area has outstanding geological features. Because there are different properties in each floor. and has undergone geological erosion by water and wind. Makes the appearance of the landscape that is strange in many areas, such as Hor Nang Usa, Tham Chang, Father Ta's coffin, Thao Baros coffin, Nang Usa coffin, Pho Ta temple, Phra Ku Nang Usa cave, Nang Usa pond. Quail Stone Shed as well as the geological, physical and geological features found in the sandstone. which is a clear stratum or sedimentary rock For example, showing interleaving layers with gravel layers. An oblique-level display showing a change in water flow direction. (Department of Mineral Resources 2009 :38-39)

various shapes formed from sandstone and gravel sand have different texture The highly durable rock layers protrude into rock sheds. or a layer of rock overlaid on top The less durable rock layers will erode. or being eroded or is a concave part under the hard rock Become a rock shed or a rocky cliff such as Hor Nang Usa, etc.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

The condition of the source is a large stone shed located on the south side of Wat Pho Ta, with a width of 2.5 meters, a length of 10.5 meters, and a height of 1.85 meters from the ground. And under the stone shed on the east side, there is also a room to enshrine a Buddha image (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :96)

Archaeological evidence appears to be a stone shed that has been renovated into a small building measuring 2.2 meters wide and 4 meters long, with a stone wall to surround it from the right to the center. The front of the stone shed is 3.8 meters long, 0.3 meters thick, 1.7 meters high, which almost touches the stone ceiling. In front, there is an entrance and exit of the stone shed, 1 meter wide and 2 meters long. In addition, the inside of the stone shed has been chiseled to have a smooth surface and plastered with cement once again (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :97).

Inside the stone shed, many antiques were found (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :97), including 3 stucco Buddha images enshrined in the middle of the room. It is a Buddha image made of rough cement. 5 small Buddha images (Sumit Pitipat 1977 :22), but currently only 2 are left and both are in damaged condition and their heads are broken. and 2 pieces of Buddha head pieces

In addition, 2 small Buddha images were found, 5 sandstone parapets, all in damaged condition. and was placed next to the inner wall of the stone shed.

Pitakchai Chatuchai (2010 :98) stated that most of the evidence found inside the stone shack of Wat Pho Ta Temple is the Lan Xang period artifacts. Age around the 22nd-23rd Buddhist century, so it can be seen that it is a religious place in Buddhism that was built for worship only. or may have the nature of being used as a space to be a cloister or accommodation of monks Because it is adjacent to the stone shack of Wat Pho, a place where Buddhist rituals are performed. In addition to the stone shed, Wat Pho Ta Temple also has a stone wall around it. and has good rainwater ditches therefore suitable for use as a place of residence Therefore, it can be said that the stone shack of Wat Pho Ta is used as a space to be a cubicle or accommodation of monks. Or it could be used as a place for meditation.

Outside, there were still traces of the stone slab chiseling into a large circular pit. which is used for placing wooden pillars to support the stone shed at Wat Pho Ta Therefore, it is important evidence to show that Wat Pho Ta Church stone sheds share the space with the Wat Pho Ta stone sheds in the form of building connections. A roof was built to connect the two stone sheds (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :98).

In addition, the parapet found within the stone shack at Wat Pho Ta Khong was moved from the stone courtyard in front of Wat Pho Ta temple, which is the chapel. to be preserved due to the damage of the parapet, it is possible