While Clearing a Simple Drainage Channel, They Unearthed a 1,300-Year-Old Hoard of Gold
The find of 33 ancient gold, silver, and bronze treasures hidden beneath a 1,300-year-old reclining Buddha statue in Thailand has attracted interest from archaeologists and the public. The items came to light during routine building work at the Wat Thammachak Sema Ram temple complex, and they provide insight into Dvaravati-era craftsmanship.
The Phra Non archaeological site, inside the temple complex, became the focus of the dig when workers installing a drainage system hit a ceramic container more than 1.22 metres below the sandstone statue. That first discovery led to a deeper investigation of the spot.
The dig and what they found
When archaeologists opened the container they found 33 ancient ornaments made from gold, silver and bronze. The haul included gold rings, silver earrings and bronze hoop earrings similar to those recovered from Dvaravati sites across Thailand. After the container was revealed, three further finds were made at the same location.
Among those later discoveries were repoussé metal sheets showing images of the Buddha, made in traditional Dvaravati style. The first gold repoussé sheet, about 7.6 by 12.7 centimetres, shows a seated Buddha with a large halo, elongated earlobes and a robe draped over one shoulder; a small hole suggests it may once have been hung or worn as decoration. A second repoussé sheet, made from a lead, tin alloy and measuring 11.4 by 15.2 centimetres, depicts a standing Buddha flanked by attendants.
Craft and preservation
Taken together, the finds shed light on spiritual life during the Dvaravati period (roughly 1,300 years ago). The repoussé sheets indicate a high level of metalworking skill. Several sheets were stacked and stuffed into packed clay with cement between layers, a detail that shows deliberate, complex handling by the makers or depositors. Damage to some pieces, however, makes it hard to be certain about the exact scenes or the total number of layers.
As director-general of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, Phanombutr Chantrachot, said, “it was likely hung with string, and could have either been worn or used as decoration”. That observation points to multiple ways such objects might have been used in ritual or display.
The Phimai National Museum is now responsible for conserving and cataloguing the finds. Specialists expect further study to reveal more about the techniques and intended uses of the items. Conservation work at the Phra Non archaeological site continues, with teams still searching for additional treasures and ensuring new discoveries are preserved.
What it tells us
The artefacts found beneath what is thought to be Thailand’s oldest and longest reclining Buddha, estimated at 13.11 metres in length and believed to date to around AD 657, provide physical evidence of religious practices and artistic expression from the Dvaravati era.
The stacked sheets placed behind the statue’s reclining head suggest ritual offerings made at that precise spot. Although some depictions and the number of metal layers remain unclear because of damage, experts judge the placement to be intentional and ceremonial.
Moved to the Phimai National Museum for further analysis, the items will enable more detailed study and public display, and may prompt further research into the artistic practices of the period.