Khao Chan Ngam Color Painting

Terrain

General Condition

Khao Chan Ngam colored paintings are located in the area of ​​Wat Lertsawat. (Khao Chan Ngam), which is a royal temple under Maha Nikaya. The temple area, including the archaeological site, is in the area of ​​the Khao Tian-Khao Tien-Khao Khuean Lan National Reserved Forest. (Khao Yai Thiang) on ​​the hillside of the dam.

On the east and south of the temple is adjacent to Huai Sap Wa. which is an ancient river that connects to Lam Ta Khong Lam Ta Khong is approximately 4 kilometers north of the temple and 5.5 kilometers east of the Lam Ta Khong Dam.

Inside Wat Lert Sawat, there is a peaceful and shady atmosphere. surrounded by forest Color paintings are found on the south side of the temple. In general, there are many large sandstone stones arranged in large groups. Some of the cubes are stacked on top of each other. There is a channel between each stone that you can walk through.

The area where the paintings appeared were several large sandstone stones arranged parallel to each other along the northwest–southeast lines. causing a long gap in the middle But the gap between the two stones at the point where the paintings are found is the widest. At present, it is poured into a cement courtyard floor. There was a large tree in the middle of the courtyard. The color paintings appear along the rock ledges and rock shelters of 4 sandstone rocks on both the east and west sides.

The area between the two stones that appears to paint the east side is made of cement platform high from the ground along the way. for enshrining Buddha images and as a seat for monks (Do not lay on the pedestal). On the west side, colored paintings appear on the wall of two stones that are stacked on top of each other. Under the cliffs, idols and jars of embalmed babies were set up. (The purpose is to transform the body and be a reminder) Beside the stone there is a cement staircase leading to the top area.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Huai Sap Wa, Lam Ta Khong

Geological conditions

Khao Khuean is a sandstone mountain in the Korat group of Mesozoic era, at the junction between the Preah Vihear and Sao Khua rocks.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Khao Chan Ngam colored paintings are the only prehistoric cave art source in Nakhon Ratchasima Province as far as it is found today. Ages in the late prehistoric period

Khao Chan Ngam colored paintings are located in the area of ​​Wat Lertsawat. (Khao Chan Ngam), which is a royal temple under Maha Nikaya. It was established as a monastery or the Khao Chan Ngam Monastery in 1977 and was declared a temple in 1995 and was granted Wisung Kham Sima in 2005. The current abbot is Phra Kru Bowon Silawat

Color paintings are found on the south side of the temple. In general, there are many large sandstone stones arranged in large groups. Some of the cubes are stacked on top of each other. There is a channel between each stone that you can walk through.

The area where the paintings appeared were several large sandstone stones arranged parallel to each other along the northwest–southeast lines. causing a long gap in the middle But the gap between the two stones at the point where the paintings are found is the widest. The color paintings appear along the rock ledges and rock shelters of 4 sandstone rocks on both the east and west sides.

The area between the two stones that appears to paint the east side is made of cement platform high from the ground along the way. for enshrining Buddha images and as a seat for monks (Do not lay on the pedestal). On the west side, colored paintings appear on the wall of two stones that are stacked on top of each other. Beside the rock, there is a cement stairway leading up to the top area.

All paintings are painted in red. It is about 2-4 meters above the ground. Past studies of the Fine Arts Department and Silpakorn University have divided the found paintings into 12 groups according to their location. In total, there were 44 images, 32 of which were portraits, 5 of animals (dogs, birds or chickens, lizards? porcupine? Tiger?) Bow and arrow 1 picture and I don't know what kind it is. 5 images. There are 2 types of painting techniques:solid silhouette and external outline. Most of the people depicted have large calves, tunics and shirtless. Women have a bird's tail hanging from a stingray and a tassel stamped on their heads.

Details of the 12 groups of pictures (Department of Fine Arts 1990, Archeology Division 1989, Torsakul Thiraphat et al. 1997, Tharapong Srisuchart and team 1989, Payao Khemnak 1996, Patcharee Sarikabut 2000, Patrapee Khanth Kan 1979, Phiboon Supakitvilakarn 1991?, Pibul Supakitvilakarn 1990) namely
Group 1 It is the most prominent and most important set of images. On the stone wall on the east, size 1x2 meters, is a solid shadow painting with 2 rows (upper and lower) looks like a group of 14 people, both males and females. childhood and adult including a picture of a dog with details as follows:

top row It is a picture of three people, the first one having only a half, without a head, the second person standing with his arms outstretched, with a piece of cloth spread out from the waist on both sides. It is a picture written on the straight side. But facing tilted to the right, the third person wrote to see the side. Facing the opposite of person 2, this picture is not full, missing the neck, some torso and thighs.

bottom row It is a procession of people walking in a row. The first image in the bottom row, about 30 centimeters below the top row, depicts a person holding a bow in the pose of archery. The arrow had already been shot from the bow. This picture is a painting showing on the side. hair on head wearing a cloth hanging in front of the back The outer edge of the cloth has slits. The back legs switched to move. Following this picture is a picture of a dog with erect ears, a swordtail, and a male genitalia. long thin body A little lower from the dog's picture is a person sitting with their knees bent. The second person is a woman with a large belly, bare breasts, and a tail similar to a bird's tail. The two are playing or talking. one is a man one is a woman The next picture is a person standing on their feet, wearing two pieces of cloth, front and back, right arm raised elbow. a side painting About 20 centimeters away from this picture is a picture of a person standing hunchbacked. On the head there is hair, wearing 2 pieces of cloth, front and back. His right hand was outstretched to hold something like a walking stick. In front of this picture is a person standing with both arms raised, similar to a dance. The hind leg is missing. The next picture is a woman. See the side in the dance pose. In front of the image of a woman is a person standing with his arms outstretched forward, with a cloth covering his face, and behind the hem there is a cross. The next picture shows two children in a dancing pose, one raising both sides of the guest, the other with left hands and feet on the waist, with the right raised up, wearing 2 pieces of cloth covering the front and back. The next image is a faint red color.

Group 2 On the stone wall on the east side, near the first group of pictures, but on a different stone wall, there is a clear picture of a person with long hair running or dancing. look back From the knees down to the toes was missing. This wall has some traces of colored paintings but completely erased. I only see red stripes.

Group 3 on the east stone wall It is a picture of a person catching a creeper. It looks like a chameleon, a lizard, or a monitor. Slightly away from the image of a person, there are 3 zigzag lines.

Group 4 On the stone wall on the east side is a picture of three people with no heads, standing, two people dressed in a miniskirt above their knees.

Group 5 On the west stone wall, a picture of three people standing flanked by a hedgehog or wild boar. It uses 2 types of painting techniques, which are outline style and solid shadow form. An image of an animal and a person standing in front of an animal outline drawing. As for the paintings that resemble solid shadows, they depict people in running postures. wearing a cloth covering the front and back 1 picture

Group 6 Portrait of 3 people. The most complete picture of this group is in the middle. It's a picture of a man spreading his arms. wearing a cloth covering the back But the part from the knee down was missing. Assuming that it was a dance pose, the other 2 people were missing the picture. by missing half 1 image from head to mid body and 1 image from hips down.

Group 7 It's a single animal image. The shape resembles a lion or a tiger. The front of the animal has 5 red dots in total, due to some missing colors.

Group 8 Picture of two people performing a dance, with only the top half of the body. The bottom part is missing.

Group 9 A portrait of a person standing with arms raised, one forearm and one missing leg. There is a vertical line drawn on the side. Maybe it's a picture of someone that has been erased (?)

Group 10 A portrait of a person with no head, in a crouching posture.

Group 11 There are 3 pictures, probably all 3 of them, but the image is missing.

Group 12 is a picture of a half person The right arm is spread out from the body. Left arm straight parallel to the floor

There were also several red stripes on the stone wall. But it was erased and I don't know which one for sure. Most of the color paintings are still in good condition. (compared to the study report of the Fine Arts Department in 1988), but some images have begun to fade, such as those in the 6th group.

The person who created this painting of Khao Chan Ngam It is a skilled artist. able to convey the story on the stone slabs more clearly than other sources The social character is probably an agricultural village. who live in about 3,000-4,000 years ago, living together in many families into a large community The painting showing an important physique is the bulge. which is found in pictures of many ponds in the northeast (May represent the relationship between communities in the Northeast) In addition, the painting also shows the dress and hunting of people at that time (Tharapong Srisuchart et al. 1989).