Wat Sop Kiang

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Sop Kiang is an abandoned archaeological site that has been excavated. restoration and improve the landscape It is located outside the northern city wall of Chiang Saen. 200 meters from the northern moat to the north, currently located behind the houses of the people. and is about 300 meters west of the Mekong River.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mekong River

Geological conditions

Chiang Saen is located on the west bank of the Mekong River. in the Chiang Saen Plain, which is a large plain formed by the deposition of sediments especially sand gravel In the Quaternary Era

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Sop Kiang is located outside the northern Chiang Saen city wall. This temple has no construction history. But it is probably one of the important temples of Chiang Saen, because in 1749 the abbot of Wat Sop Kiang was crowned as the sangha of Chiang Saen. Wat Sop Kiang has not been declared an ancient monument.

The Fine Arts Department excavated and restored this ancient site in 2005-2006 The temple's structures were found, consisting of the main ubosot, the main chedi, a small chedi, two buildings, an altar and a fort in an earthen embankment that surrounds the temple two fortresses.

The main chedi of Wat Sop Kiang sits on the same base as the chapel in front of the chedi and faces the east. Evidence that can tell the form of art is The rest of the main chedi is only the lotus base and part of the base supporting the bell body only. But enough to study the form and shape, it can be assumed that it is a chedi in the Lanna-style bell-shaped chedi group that supports the bell body as a set of 3 lotus bases in an octagonal plan. which is the most popular style in Chiang Saen during the late 21st Buddhist century to the early 22nd Buddhist century.

The excavation has also found important evidence. Chinese porcelain of the Qing Dynasty The age was around the 22nd-23rd Buddhist century, found together with the scales and scales (Peng Peng), but found in the base of a small building. which should be packed later (Samya Rattanakosin) In addition, traces of lead casting activities were found to make ammunition in the building on the south side of the temple. which is probably related to the war between Lanna and Burma When Chiang Saen was broken in 1804 B.E.