moat house

Terrain

General Condition

Ban Khu Mueang ancient community Located about 10 kilometers south of Warin Chamrap District, the present location of the Khu Mueang Subdistrict. and covers an area of ​​3 villages, which are Moo 1, Moo 4 and Moo 7.

Characteristics of the archaeological site is a marsh on a low-level lagoon. It is caused by the deposition of sediment in the Mun River and its tributaries.

The ancient city of Ban Moat is located about 10 kilometers south of the Mun River, with Pub Creek (fold) which is a tributary of the Mun River. Flows from Samrong District through the north and west sides of the city. where Huai Pub (fold) and a branch of Huai Pub (fold) is Khlong Lam Ta Khong. (Or Huai Yot) flows through the north side and is also the northern moat of the ancient city.

The aerial photographs show that the ancient city of Ban Moat is characterized by a double-layered ditch and earth embankment, with the inner layer having an irregular shape of the mound. rather oval The size is approximately 300 meters wide (along the north-south direction) and 600 meters long (along the east-west direction). The ditch is about 750 meters wide (along the north-south direction) and about 1,000 meters long (along the east-west direction). The ditch has only 3 sides, which are east, south and west. Khlong Lamtaphao (Or Huai Yot) is a moat.

Another important water source within the moat is Nong Saeng (in the outer city northwest) There are also several wells or swamps. Located on the east side outside the moat, namely Nong Ku (assumed to be Baray in the Khmer period located outside the city 250 meters from the southeastern moat, Nong Saeo, Nong Khu, Nong Muang, Nong Sabang and Nong Ta Thai

At present, the inner city is an oval mound. densely populated almost the entire area including government offices and temples while within the outer city was an agricultural area. There are people's houses scattered around. but dense in the northwest area adjacent to Huai Pub (fold), while the area outside the city is agricultural area.

The ditches and embankments were greatly destroyed by settlements and farming. Almost all the moats were turned into rice fields. Some are homes and roads. Only a few remained, a small pond. But from aerial photographs, it can still be seen that the moat line is wet. and an embankment with a line of trees.

The ancient wells such as Nong Sang and Nong Ku are in good condition and have been excavated. as it is still in use today

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Moon River, Huai Pub (Huai Phap), Khlong Lam Ta Khong (Huai Yot), Nong Saeng

Geological conditions

Characteristics of the archaeological site is a marsh on a low-level lagoon. caused by the deposition of convective sediments of the Mun River and its tributaries The geomorphology is sandstone and sandstone in the Maha Sarakham rock category. (And the Khok Kruat stone category?) Korat Stone Group Soil is a set of soil in Roi Et. which is an old river sediment that is often found on the lagoon Looks like sandy loam. low organic matter The drainage is pretty bad. Slow surface water runoff and has moderately fast water permeability Suitable for rice cultivation

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

From the past study history (Thawatchai floor Paisansilp 2541), both archaeological survey and excavation. Makes it known that the moat houses have been used by humans since prehistoric times. The first settlement was probably an ancient community in the Bronze Age, about 2,500 years ago, who chose to settle on the mounds of the low-level Lantuan plains. near natural water sources There is rice cultivation and metal smelting. There is a tradition of burial in the supine position stretched out. along with placing a dedication object in the tomb as well.

meanwhile Contemporary ancient community with moat houses in Non Kae area About a kilometer away from the moat to the east, a second burial was buried in an earthenware jar.

Later, about 1,500 years ago, the community grew in population. more complicated A moat and embankment were built around the residential mound. The shape is oval. (built according to the shape of the mound therefore irregular shape) The size of the mound is about 300x600 meters.

When Indian culture spread into Southeast Asia around the 11th-12th Buddhist century, other communities entered the historical period. But the moat house may still maintain the old culture. is to bury the deceased by burial Not cremation like other communities who have adopted Buddhism The discovery of contemporary objects of early history in the tomb at Ban Moat Shows that the historical culture has been adopted from other communities.

In addition, evidence was found to divide the area for activities within the community, ie, the eastern side of the mound is home to housing and pottery production. The western part of the hill was used as a burial ground. and has occasional residency activities.

Examples of archaeological evidence found in the eastern mound, such as fragments of red clay pottery. black earthenware fragments bronze jewelry parts steel tool Agate and carnelian beads, grain, animal bones, and the western mound. Four tombstones were found, dating from 2,300-1,500 years ago.

the same time There is an ancient community that lived before the construction of the Non Kae Religious Site. Found the tradition of burial in a jar or the second burial, which can be compared with Ban Kan Lueang community.

Later, when the Khmer culture has spread to the northeastern region around the 15th Buddhist century, urban construction and urban planning were established. Religious places and objects of worship were built at the moat house. (Approximately 750 meters wide, about 1,000 meters long) around the mound where the former community is located.

during the same period in the east of the city outside the ditch It appears that the construction of a religious place is Non Kae archaeological site. (Maybe the same community?) The southeast side outside the moat. A large rectangular swamp was excavated. which is probably Baray in the Khmer culture period.

The period of Khmer culture deterioration (Around after the 18th Buddhist century) the moat house was abandoned for a while. Until the time of the migration of people to settle the city of the Lao people in the Rattanakosin period. Around the 23rd-24th Buddhist century, a religious place was built, namely That Oub Mung, which is in the southeast of the moat house. Outside the moat, Non Kae archaeological site, a religious site in the Khmer culture period, was converted into a Buddhist religious site. doctrine and should have continued to live until the present.