Stone courtyard at Wat Pho Ta

Terrain

General Condition

Lan Hin Wat Pho Ta is an ancient 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 general appearance is a large stone courtyard located to the west of Wat Pho Ta. And is a stone courtyard in the middle between Wat Pho Ta, Tham Phra, Father Ta's coffin, Thao Baros coffin and Tham Chang. The stone courtyard is 15 meters wide and 10 meters long (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :87).

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. 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

Lan Hin Wat Pho Ta is a large stone courtyard located to the west of the ancient site of Wat Pho Ta. and is a stone courtyard in the middle between Pho Ta Temple, Tham Phra, Father Ta's coffin, Thao Baros coffin and Tham Chang. The stone courtyard is 15 meters wide and 10 meters long (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :87). Documents of the Archeological Division ( 1989a :173) stated that the stone courtyard of Wat Pho Ta was drilled into 67 round holes.

In the middle of the stone courtyard, the ground was chiseled into a hole to plant the parapet. By placing the parapet around all 8 directions, it is rectangular shape. The pattern of embroidering sema leaves is embroidering a pair of sema leaves. By stipulating that a large stone sema leaf is placed inside and a small stone sema leaf is placed outside. and the sema leaves that are placed in the corner will intercept holes at right angles (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :89)

In addition, in the middle of the stone courtyard with sema leaves, the stone courtyard has been carved into a square frame that corresponds to the north-south axis. But while the sema leaves are not embroidered according to the north-south axis (Pitachai Chatuchai 2010 :89)

Phithakchai Chatuchai (2010 :89) assumed that from the center area within the stone courtyard with the bai sema, which has carved the stone floor into a square frame that corresponds to the north-south axis. Probably intended to be an area where Buddha images or objects used for Buddhist rituals are placed. by placing it in line with the north-south axis.

While the sema leaves that are placed around the stone courtyard are not located along the north-south axis. It is assumed that the ubosot area has been adjusted for many rituals. This corresponds to the sema leaves found in the vicinity of the stone courtyard in the area of ​​Wat Pho Ta, Tham Phra and Wat Pho Ta Church. with both Dvaravati and Lan Xang periods.

A round hole was also found on the ground of the stone courtyard. By drilling a hole with a diameter of 20-100 cm, arranged in a line around the outside of the parapet. which may be used as a lamp or candle holder in rituals.

The stone courtyard is also dotted with stone sheds surrounding it, which are rock sheds with traces of prehistoric paintings. Therefore, it may be related to being a place for religious ceremonies or local beliefs in the historical period, Dvaravati, Khmer and Lan Xang periods (Pakchai Chatuchai 2010 :89).