Ban Nong Bua Rai
| Native Name | บ้านหนองบัวราย, បានណងបួរ៉ាយ |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Sri Surya, (?), Muang Phanom Rung |
| BA# | T31181 |
| CISARK# | 2740 |
| Type | Ancient City |
| Location | |
| Part of | Ban Nong Bua Rai |
| Village | Ban Nong Bua Rai |
| Commune | Chorakhe Mak |
| District | Prakhon Chai |
| Province | Buriram |
| Country | Thailand |
| Coordinates | 14.53119, 102.96970 |
| History | |
| Founded | 10th, 11th, 12th Century |
| Builder | Various |
| UNESCO Tentative | 2019 |
| Verification | GPS |
Ban Nong Bua Rai (บ้านหนองบัวราย - Pronounced: Baan Nawng Boo-a Rye)
The presence of a large baray, Nong Bua Rai, as well as the adjacent arogyasala Kuti Ruesi Ban Nong Bua Rai, appear to indicate the general location of an ancient settlement located at the eastern foot of Prasat Phanom Rung. The reservoir is recorded on an inscription as having been commissioned by Suryavarman I and was named Sri Surya so, the settlement existed from at least the early 11th century while the aforementioned arogyasala provides evidence that occupation of the site continued into the late 12th century.
While the baray is named the settlement is not although common practice would suggest an identical or similar name for the corresponding city. (i.e. Sri Surya, Suryapura or something along those lines.) Bearing in mind the importance of Phanom Rung, the size of the baray and the presence of the hospital chapel it's fair to assume that the settlement was of a significant size. The neighbouring settlement - listed as Ban Khok Muang - 4 kms to the south in the vicinity of Prasat Muang Tam, has its own large baray and arogyasala and therefore appears to have been a separate site. Of course, with outlying villages and 'suburbs', the two distinct, albeit contemporary, settlements may to some extent have merged into a single, large conurbation although a lot more research and excavations would be required to confirm this.
Indeed, while the two heavily restored, ancient temples are today justifiably much vaunted by the TFAD, (and, along with Khao Plaibat, on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list), little in-depth research appears to have been carried out in the immediate vicinity of either site. (To be fair, both sites are today occupied by villages.)
As seen elsewhere, not all 11th century settlements were necessarily walled or moated so no clear outline of this settlement is readily discernable. Large barays and arogyasalas were generally located close to but outside of the main settlement areas therefore a location southeast of Nong Bua Rai, in the area of the present-day village Ban Nong Bua Rai - possibly extending eastwards towards Prasat Ban Bu - would seem, in our opinion, the most likely location.
As we said, its precise location and extent await further excavations.
Map Location
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Historic Archive
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Nearby Sites
- Ban Nong Bua Rai
- Ban Nong Krathai
- Baray Muang Tam
- Khleang Prasat Phanom Rung
- Kuti Ruesi Ban Khok Muang
- Kuti Ruesi Ban Nong Bua Rai
- Nong Bua Rai
- Phanom Rung Historical Park Information Centre
- Prasat Ban Bu
- Prasat Muang Tam
- Prasat Phanom Rung
- Saphan Khom
- Sra Prasat Phanom Rung
- T31038
- T31040
- T31041
- T31062
- T31064
- T31182
- T31360
- T31361
- T31362
- T31365
- Wat Prasat Phanom Rung
- Wat Sahamit Narumon
External Links
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References