Category:Chai Nat Province

Map Keys
	Large Prasats		Arogyasalas
	Large Ruins		Dharmasalas
	Medium Prasats		Ancient Bridges
	Medium Ruins		Ancient Cities
	Medium Tuols		Ancient Kilns
	Small Prasats		Ancient Quarries
	Small Ruins		Ancient Reservoirs
	Small Tuols		Ancient Villages
	Museums		Carvings
	Depositories		Other Structures
	Wats		Prehistoric Sites
	Neak Ta's		Unknown Sites
	Unconfirmed Sites

Small, mainly rural province with a central location in the Chao Phraya Valley. The region was undoubtedly important for rice growing in ancient times as it is today, as well as for transport and communications with the Chao Phraya flowing through the eastern part of the province. Khmer vestiges are concentrated in Sankhaburi District which is situated on a tributary named the Noi River and appears to correspond to a substantial-sized settlement existing from early Dvaravati through Khmer periods into the Sukhothai era. Wat Mahathat (Chai Nat) in particular houses numerous Khmer artefacts and was clearly an important Angkor-period site.

Numerous Dvaravati settlements have been identified in the province - with U Taphao being the best known - and while occupation of the larger sites is likely to have persisted into Khmer times confirmation is not always easily obtained.