Non Muang

Terrain

General condition

The ancient city of Non Muang is located about 1 kilometer south from Chum Phae District. It is a rather round mound. It is surrounded by 2 layers of ditches and 2 layers of embankment. The traces of the inner ditch are much clearer than the outer layer. The inner city has a diameter of 420 meters (about 170 rai). The outer city has a rather elongated shape. With a diameter of about 600 meters (about 216 rai), the hill is about 5 meters from the surrounding area that is agricultural land and the villagers' farms.

The nature of the area is a plain between the river and the foothills. that is, there is a creek in Kut Ta Hai (Branch of the Chuan River) flows through the west and south of the city. Before flowing into the Chon River, which is about 1.5 kilometers south, and Phu Wiang is located about 6.5 kilometers northeast of the city. The topography is sandstone in the Phu Kradueng rock category.

The general condition on the outer and inner mounds is deciduous dipterocarp forest. There are quite dense perennials. Most of them are public areas. The soil surface has ancient artifacts scattered everywhere. especially the fragments of earthenware Between the inner and outer moats is a paddy field and animal husbandry. Except for the south side, which is still a hill, forest and the monastery of Wat Non Mueang.

The inner moat is clearly noticeable. There are different depths. and still have water inside The outer moat is shallow. Especially in the north and northeast, the condition is shallow until the villagers use it as a rice field. During the survey, the outer moat in the southeast was being excavated by Chum Phae Subdistrict Administrative Organization

Both the inner and outer embankments cascaded around the city. There are some areas where the ridge is not present, such as the west side of the inner moat. The road leading to the city and the outer embankment, which is mostly plowed into farmland Except for the southern ridge inside the Monastery of Wat Non Mueang that still appears an embankment about 2-4 meters high.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Huai Kut Ta Hai, Chuan River

Geological conditions

Geological characteristics of the archaeological site are classified as Phu Kradueng rocks. The lowest part is sandstone, red, reddish-brown, and reddish-gray. It often contains mica. Some places have some layers of limestone interspersed. The middle layer consists of sandstone, mudstone, reddish-brown and purple. There are clinker and clinker layers. The rock layers are often covered with thick sediment. Outcropping is rarely found. There are mica sandstone and pebbles. Switch layers appearing at regular intervals. The upper part is alternating powdery sandstone, sandstone, mudstone, and pebbles, calcareous, red-gray and gray-green. The top rock layer outcrops is a red-brown sandstone cliff and has some alternating layers of powdery sandstone. The sandstone layer is 30 cm thick to more than 1 meter. The general rock layer is relatively easily eroded. Conditions of sediment accumulation in rivers with strong currents along the trench. and precipitated on both sides of the river basin, swamp and marsh in a semi-arid climate of 180-145 million years (Department of Mineral Resources 2009:17-18).

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

The area of ​​Non Muang has traces of human use of space since the late prehistoric period. Or about 2,500 years ago and continued to live in the historical era, namely the Dvaravati period. (Buddhist century 12-16) There were moats and embankments surrounding the city. In addition, a group of parapets were also found within the city in several places. Assumed that it is an important city in belief in this day and age. The people of Non Muang continued to live until the time when the Khmer culture played a role in this area. is around the 16th-17th Buddhist century

The main archaeological evidence unearthed included a prehistoric tomb with its consecrated objects. Including other antiques such as clay pots of various shapes, terracotta circles, terracotta bullets, fiery stone, terracotta chips, terracotta pipes, terracotta columns, terracotta sticks, terracotta stamps Clay dolls in the shape of buffalo and elephants Terracotta Buddha Head Piece steel tool Bronze jewelry, glass beads, glass slag, iron slag, stone tools, stone moulds, stone bracelets, ax moulds, stone beads, crushed stone ingots, stone ornaments animal bone tools Ornaments made from animal bones and shells

About 550 meters to the west of Non Muang is the location of Wat Pa Phra Non Phatthanaram. (Wat Phra Non Phatthanaram) There is a group of sema leaves embroidered around the reclining Buddha image. Which looks like the sema leaves at Wat Ban Chaeng Yao, which is in the south of the city. When the road was cut through the outer embankment to reach Ban Jaeng Yao A bronze Buddha image was also found.

The general condition of Non Muang It is an ancient city with a moat and earthen embankment surrounded by two floors for two periods. Currently, the outer and inner mounds are deciduous dipterocarp forests. There are quite dense perennials. Most of them are public areas. The soil surface has ancient artifacts scattered everywhere. especially the fragments of earthenware Between the inner and outer moats is a paddy field and animal husbandry. Except for the south side, which is still a hill, forest and the monastery of Wat Non Mueang.

Inner moat can be clearly noticed There are different depths. and still have water inside Outer Moat Shallow, especially in the north and northeast, is so shallow that the villagers use it as a rice field. During the survey, the outer moat in the southeast was being excavated by Chum Phae Subdistrict Administrative Organization

Both the inner and outer embankments cascaded around the city. There are some areas where the ridge is not present, such as the west side of the inner moat. The road leading to the city and the outer embankment, which is mostly plowed into farmland Except for the southern ridge inside the Monastery of Wat Non Mueang that still appears an embankment about 2-4 meters high.

After excavations in 1982, a building was built to cover the excavation pit and partially removed the trees. including dredging the inner ditch to be able to store water for use After that, this ancient city has been developed continuously until in 2003-2007 the Fine Arts Department has organized a project to conserve and develop the ancient city of Non Muang. under construction "Non Muang Ancient City Information Center" and a permanent building displaying 5 excavation pits (5 holes), including walkways to various buildings. All buildings are in the southern area within the inner moat.

Non Muang Ancient City Information Center It is a permanent building made of bricks and mortar, 1 storey, inside exhibits banners, pictures and models about basic information of Khon Kaen Province. Brief Archeology of Khon Kaen Province location information History of education, excavation and development of the ancient city of Non Muang including various archaeological evidence excavated and OTOP of Ban Non Muang at present The information center is staffed internally to serve visitors.

Exhibition pit building There are 5 buildings (Buildings 1-5), all located on the south side within the Inner Ancient City. It is an airy building, made of bricks and mortar, inside the excavation pit showing the graves of prehistoric people. There are both human skeletons and various consecrated objects. The excavation pit and the evidence on display have been preserved by the Fine Arts Department.

In addition, the area of ​​the Grandfather Shrine Beside building number 2, there are 4 sandstone parapets, one square sandstone pillar and several laterite blocks.