Phra Wiang ancient city

Terrain

General Condition

Phra Wiang City or the city of Kranam Khok as the local people call It is an ancient community located on the old sandbar of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The town plan is rectangular, 450 meters wide, 1110 meters long, oriented in the north-south direction. with Khlong Suan Luang and Khlong Khu Phai flanked to the north and south Currently, it is the location of Wat Suan Luang, Wat Petcharik, Ban Si Thammarat of the Department of Public Welfare. Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum and the Office of Fine Arts 14 Nakhon Si Thammarat

From the study, it was found that it was an important ancient community during the 14th-19th Buddhist centuries.

The territory plan of the ancient city of Phra Wiang today

In the north, next to the Suan Luang canal, which is a natural river. Currently, there are no traces left.

In the south, next to Khu Phai canal is a natural canal. Currently, only traces remain in the southeast corner. and left the embankment to the east.

In the east is a canal dug to find an earthen embankment from Khlong Khu Phai to Khlong Suan Luang. There is an earth embankment about 1 -1.50 meters high, about 3-5 meters wide, about 200 meters long, all along the line and some outer embankments are left.

In the west there is a canal Hua Wong. The area behind the temple of Phetcharik Found an embankment 3 meters wide, 1 -1.50 meters high, about 100 meters long.

The condition of the city of Phra Wiang was compromised because it was inhabited by the later people to the present. In the shallow part of the moat, only ditches or drainage ditches remain.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Influence of river basin, canal, pier

Secondary waterways are Khlong Khu Phai and Khlong Suan Luang that flow from the Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range. Passes the north and south flanks of Phra Wiang town and flows into the canal pier (Tharapong Srisuchart, 1999,3309)

Geological conditions

Located on a sandbar sediment caused by sea action and winds about 6,000 years ago, it is the old San Sai Beach (Chakrit Sitthirit, 2011, page number not listed).

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Mythological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Phra Wiang ancient city It is a community surrounded by ditches. It has a rectangular plan, 450 meters wide, 1110 meters long, with Khlong Khu Phai and Khlong Suan Luang flanked to the north and south. in the legend of Phra Borommathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat Mention the city of Phra Wiang Rao Suk 1200, but the archaeological evidence found within the city

It is assumed that the community was created during the 14th - 19th Buddhist centuries and has been used continuously.

Inside the town of Phra Wiang There are important temples such as Wat Suan Luang East (abandoned), currently home to the National Museum of Nakhon Si Thammarat and the Office of Fine Arts No. 14, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Wat Suan Luang West and Wat Sadet (Abandoned) is currently located in the south of Wat Suan Luang East. It is now the location of the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Library. In addition, there are Wat Petcharik East (abandoned), Wat Phetcharik West, Wat Bo Phong (abandoned), Wat Phra Wiang (abandoned) and Wat Kudi (abandoned), etc.

Examples of antiques found in Phra Wiang include amulets, dated around the 18th Buddhist century, Javanese coins, bronze sculptures of women, traditional clay pots with patterns similar to art in the central region, dating to around the 14th Buddhist century, terracotta kundes. have a foothold Set the age around the 13th-15th Buddhist century, artifacts found from excavations in the year. 2007, including Chinese wares from the Sung to Yuan dynasties around the 16th-19th Buddhist century), as well as large and relatively dense local pottery, Vietnamese wares, Sangkhalok wares from Sukhothai-Si Satchanalai kilns, wares from Bang Poon kilns. Suphan Buri Province, the pond cascade

etc.

From the study, it is assumed that the ancient community of Phra Wiang There is a relationship with the ancient community group, canal pier group. Because Khlong Khu Phai and Khlong Suan Luang flow into the harbor canal about 3 km south, the artifacts found are similar and different archaeological sites are located on the same sandbar.

From the evidence, it is concluded that Phra Wiang city may have developed from the beginning of history and become a trading port with outside and domestic communities during the 14th-19th Buddhist centuries.

Relevant local legend

The legend of Phra Borommathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat (Assumed that it was composed during the reign of King Narai the Great) said of Phra Wiang that “When Phraya Si Thammasokarat died in the 1200s, Phraya Chantaraphan was the governor. Phraya Phongsa Sura is Phraya Phraya Chantraphanu, setting up Thaksin's side, Phra Mahathat, as a city of Phra Wiang.... Later, Phraya let him dig a ditch around Phra Wiang City....After that there was a battle with Phraya Java. Until the city has a fever, it's an abandoned city.... (Department of Fine Arts, 1960)