Ban Khok Khon

Terrain

General condition

The village area is a large mound. It is surrounded by flat areas formed by the deposition of sediments during the Quaternary period. Currently, the surrounding area is a rice farming area. Huai Wang Thong, a branch of Huai Nam Mong, runs along the west side of the village. On the south side, next to the mound, there is a large swamp known as "Nong Na Phai"

The archaeological site is located approximately 6 kilometers southeast of Huai Nam Mong, 10.5 kilometers southwest of the Mekong River, and 16 kilometers east of the Phu Phra Bat Mountain Range.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Huai Wang Thong (Huai Ban Mui), Huai Nam Mong, Mekong River

Geological conditions

Area formed by sediment deposition during the Quaternary period.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Scientific age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

From the excavation of Ban Khok Khon archaeological site of the Fine Arts Department (Kalayani Kitchotiprasert 2001) found archaeological evidence in both types of Ecofact, Artefact and Feature.

Ecofact types of evidence include shells and animal bones.

Artefact-type evidences include polished stone axes, stone arrowheads, stone bracelets, cylindrical stone beads. (found with the skeleton of a child) a buffalo-shaped stone doll. (found together with the skeleton of a child There is a hole in the middle of the body and from where it was found it was assumed to be a neck ornament) Bronze casting mould. (made of sandstone) sharpening stone (made of sandstone) terracotta bronze crucible A small, pointed tool made of animal bone. Perforated horns, animal fangs, black rice grains in small pottery, bronze cowbell (width 8 cm. length 11.45 cm., thickness 4.85 cm.), iron tools. terracotta bullets, terracotta, terracotta lumps with wicker imprints earthenware scraps Various shapes of clay pots, such as round bottomed pots, bowl-shaped, pedestal-shaped, vase-shaped pots, are decorated with colored drawings, grafted cords and clay streaks wrapped around the shoulders and the body of the vessel. Almost all of the earthenware found was dedicated to the corpse.

The excavators have classified the culture and age of human use in the past at Ban Khok Khon Archaeological Site into 2 large periods, namely

Early 1 Prehistoric, Iron Age, about 2500-1,500 years ago (comparative age and C-14 from shells, analyzed by the Office of Atomic Energy for Peace). Three groups of burials were found.

Group at 1 In the excavation pit number 1, a group of 5 pottery vessels was found, 2 bowl-shaped, 1 cylindrical with a forked mouth with red writing, 1 small cup-shaped with ridges on the shoulder, and 1 pan-shaped. No human skeleton was found. Only one tooth was found in a pan-shaped vessel.

Group at 2 In the excavation pit number 3, two human skeletons were found without a head. in a stretched supine position Hands clasped on the abdomen turn head east There are several vessels buried together, the most important being the red-patterned vessel. Round bottom container A small round bottomed container with soil lines wrapped around the body. In addition, the skeleton of a child and a red painted pottery were also found in a large pottery. Decorate the container with clay lines wrapped around the body.

The study noted that In Ban Chiang culture, which is a large culture in the upper Isan area. Red painted pottery was in the late Ban Chiang period. while the containers decorated with wrapped clay lines were in the early Ban Chiang period. But the evidence found in this archaeological site, both types of vessels are contemporary.

Group at 3 In the 3rd excavation pit, a human skeleton was found. found only the leg The northern part is still buried in the excavation pit wall. The dedication objects include a terrazzo ax, a red-painted terracotta pottery. and a round bottom earthenware with a streaked rope pattern.

Early 2 historical era Found evidence of antiquities in Dvaravati and Lan Xang culture. In the area of ​​religious sites in the middle of the village, there is also a stone parapet, which is a cultural form in the Dvaravati period (Walailak Songsiri, 2002).

In addition, the Khok Noen area among the plains surrounding Khok Khon archaeological site also appears many other archaeological sites, such as Wiang Peacock, Wat Tham Dal Kok, Ban Phon Phra, Ban Phon Tan, Ban Chok Temple, Ban Phon That, Ban Nong Bua (see details in Walailak. Songsiri 2002)

Walailak Songsiri (2002:26-27) studied ancient objects found at Ban Khok Khon archaeological site. Especially the form of pottery and the funeral of a child or the second burial in a large pottery, then commented that Cultural features of the prehistoric community at this archaeological site More likely to relate to the Upper Chi River than the Ban Chiang culture in Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon. Especially the pattern of the container that has a dark red pattern on the surface of the soft-colored container. It is a square or crooked pattern. Decorated with a cross and a small red line. and the type with red black and red writing on orange surface mixed with rope pattern and decorated on the outside by using spiral and bow pattern. which is similar to the container in the early Chi River group They also have good knowledge and expertise in both bronze and iron metallurgy.

From a survey conducted in September 2014 inside Wat Si Sa-at (17.787637 N, 102.503546 E) located in the middle of a mound. And the Fine Arts Department had excavated in 2001 (excavation hole 1), no artifacts were found on the surface of the soil. however Walking in the temple can only be partially done. Because the ground is very dense weeds

When walking to explore the land of Mr. Somkiat Srichai, Deputy Prime Minister of Khok Khon Subdistrict Administrative Organization (behind Khok Khon fresh market) (17.789180 N, 102.501990 E) located on the west mound It is now a wasteland. And the Fine Arts Department had excavated in 2001 (Excavation Hole No. 3), found a lot of clay pottery fragments, orange, gray and black, with no pattern, slashed rope and scratched patterns. East) adjacent to this land is also the location of the Ban Khok Khon Museum building. which is a permanent building There are guards and fences surrounding it. It was constructed in 2013 while the survey is not yet open for viewing.

From the interview with Mr. Thongmee Kaewkalaya, house number 67, Moo 4, the house is adjacent to the land of Mr. Somkiat Meechai, it was found that This area used to be an excavation pit of the Fine Arts Department. In the past, many ancient artifacts have been found on the soil surface. especially the fragments of pottery and glass beads. when it rains kids In the village, they often come to collect beads in this area. while other areas In the community, antiques and human bones are often found. But most are found when digging holes underground. In the past, many artifacts were smuggled in the past. But now there is not much. As for Ban Khok Khon Museum It was built by the budget of the Khok Khon Subdistrict Administrative Organization, but the interior display is not yet complete. due to having to wait for the operation process both budget Requesting permission and moving antiques from the Fine Arts Department