Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – It often happens that beneath modern cities and streets, archaeologists unearth the ancient remnants of an entire settlement of which existence was previously unknown to researchers.
Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University
Now, a team of researchers at the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, led by Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee found evidence of an ancient earthen embankment surrounding the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima, located in Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
These remnants suggest that ancient communities may have existed prior to the construction of the old moat in Nakhon Ratchasima. This development occurred during the reign of King Narai the Great in the Ayutthaya period, which spanned from B.E. 2199 to 2231.
This discovery stems from the analysis of aerial photographs captured in 1954 by the Royal Thai Survey Department. Prof. Dr. Santi’s research revealed that, geographically, the region around the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima was once a floodplain associated with the Old Takhong Canal. This canal originates from Lam Takhong in the west and traverses through the northern section of what is now a densely populated city moat area.
An aerial photograph taken in 1954 of the area surrounding the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima Image credit: The Royal Thai Survey Department)
In an analysis of aerial photographs from 1954, Prof. Dr. Santi identified what seemed to be an earthen embankment extending in a straight line to the north, west, and east of the Old Takhong Canal. This observation led to the hypothesis that this embankment could mark the boundary of another ancient community located north of Nakhon Ratchasima’s old city, which was distinctly enclosed by a square moat.
The area surrounding the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima has undergone considerable changes due to modern urban activities. However, an analysis of what are thought to be ancient earthen embankments, in conjunction with the flow patterns of the Old Takhong Canal, reveals that these do not align with natural water movement. Two geographical anomalies serve as indicators:
1. During the flood season, when water masses from the Old Lam Takhong approach from the west and encounter the earthen embankment on its western side (now known as Soi Prapa Road), this embankment obstructs the flow, resulting in flooding outside its boundaries. Subsequently, as water gradually passes through narrow drainage channels left within the embankment, significant erosion occurs in these external channels.
This process transports sediments more extensively than in other regions, ultimately forming lowlands that later evolved into ponds or swamps situated before the embankment (currently recognized as Assadang Reservoir).
Examples of ancient communities with boundaries indicated by 4-sided earthen embankments .
2. The substantial volume of water retained outside the embankment is compelled by the structure to flow behind it at consistently elevated velocities. Consequently, when the Old Lam Takhong enters the region behind the embankment, which encompasses an ancient community area, it undergoes significant horizontal erosion. This phenomenon results in a stream that is more sinuous than usual, exhibiting greater winding than typical streams.
The cause of this increased meandering lies in the concentration of a large volume of water that should ideally disperse evenly across the entire area but is instead confined outside the embankment and forced to traverse solely through the Old Lam Takhong channel.
(a) Ancient community area boundaries assessed from aerial photographs from 1954; (b) Conditions of current communities in the area surrounding the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima
Abnormal stream behavior caused by earthen embankments is a notable feature in several ancient community areas within Thailand’s Northeastern region. This phenomenon can be observed in places like the ancient communities of Khok Kham and Khok Sung in Buriram Province, the ancient community of Pho Si in Sakon Nakhon Province, and the ancient city of Phlapphla. Additionally, it has been identified at the northern earthen embankment of the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima during this survey.
Based on the evidence of these two abnormal stream behavior patterns, it can be interpreted that the square boundary visible in the 1954 aerial photographs is an earthen embankment that marked the residential boundaries of an ancient community, similar to those found in other areas mentioned above.
The survey shows the earthen embankment covered a rectangular area with a 2-kilometer northern embankment. The western and eastern embankments’ lengths couldn’t be initially assessed due to overlap with the Nakhon Ratchasima city moat.
An analysis of embankment construction patterns in ancient communities shows that streams often flowed through the community center.
Upon measuring the distance from the northern embankment to the Old Takhong Canal, it was determined to be 850 meters. Extending this area southward by an additional 850 meters from the Old Takhong Canal would result in alignment with an existing structure, Chompol Road, which serves as the principal thoroughfare traversing the center of Nakhon Ratchasima’s historic city.
Professor Dr. Santi Pailoplee posits that Chompol Road may have served as the southern boundary of an ancient community. He preliminarily infers that this community was established prior to the founding of the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima. According to his analysis, “the original southern embankment might have been repurposed from its initial role as a community boundary marker to function as the main central road in old Nakhon Ratchasima.”
Based on the initial hypothesis that the southern boundary is Chompol Road, it can be concluded that the shape of this ancient community was something close to a square. This helps support another perspective that this earthen embankment is not a baray (a large water reservoir in ancient Khmer culture), which was typically rectangular in shape with a width:length ratio of approximately 1:2 in almost all cases.
By measuring the area’s dimensions, 2 km wide by 1. 7 km long, we find it covers 3. 4 square kilometers or 2, 125 rai. This community is twice the size of the old city of Nakhon Ratchasima and larger than other mentioned ancient communities.
Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee stated that this preliminary study, based on remote sensing data, needs further archaeological surveys to verify its accuracy. He hopes these findings will guide future research and inspire pride in Nakhon Ratchasima’s rich history.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
