Category:Chaiyaphum 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

Although traditionally flying somewhat under the radar, in terms of Angkorian vestiges, compared to neighbouring provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima and even Khon Kaen, Chaipyaphum reveals a surprisingly large number of ancient Khmer sites. With the notable exceptions of the intact arogyasala Prang Ku Ban Nong Faek in the far northeast and Ku Daeng, just west of the present-day provincial capital, most sites display meagre remains although the volume does provide evidence of a significant ancient Khmer presence in what is today Chaiyaphum.

Predictably, these are principally clustered in the southeast, close to Nakhon Ratchasima, although there is also a southwest-northeast string of sites in the central part of the province leading up to Ku Daeng and Khon Kaen. many of the latter, including several ancient settlements, are aligned on, or close to, what is today Highway 2037 suggesting this may correspond to an ancient route. The route conceivably connected sites in Nakhon Sawan, as well as Si Thep, in the southeast with Khon Kaen and eventually Sakon Nakhon to the northeast.

Geographically, the province is considered a border zone between the Khorat Plateau and the Central Plains with flat, agricultural land covering the south and eastern areas and mountains to the north and northwest. The aforementioned central cluster lies in a northeast-southwest valley which eventually leads to the present-day pass between Chaiyaphum and Petchabun - today lined by Highway 225. In the far north of the province, Route 12 closely parallels the border with Khon Kaen and connects the latter, via another mountain pass over what is today Nam Nao National Park, with Phitsanulok and Sukhothai to the west. The extensive, forested mountains may also have provided, relatively easily accessible and valuable resources.

Overall, the southeast would have been very much an extension of the territory of Nakhon Ratchasima and features a number of probably 11th to early 12th-century sites while the centre and northeast likely formed important communications and transport routes from early periods into the Bayon era.

Since the province lacks the spectacular sites found in neighbouring provinces it has, as we suggested, taken rather a back seat in terms of Khmer archaeology and many of its minor sites have received little attention to date. Correspondingly many sites remain unexcavated and even undocumented - both in earlier times by CISARK and more recently by the TFAD - and the identification of many vestiges, as well as monastery artefacts, is largely due to some commendable, local, amateur researchers.