Category:Chanthaburi 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

During the Angkorian period, most of modern-day Chanthaburi Province would have consisted of either forested mountains or coastal mangrove swamps and the majority of the small number of significant Khmer sites found to date are clustered in the region of Muang Paniat Ancient City, Boran Sathan Muang Paniat, just southeast of the present-day regional capital. This sheltered, estuarine area appears to have served as an important trading port since early, Funan and Chenla times, with confirmed vestiges dating to the Thala Borivat and Sambor Prei Kuk periods as well as signs of extensive occupation into the Yasovarman I era.

This ancient port has provided numerous interesting artefacts - many of which are housed in the excellent Wat Thong Thua Museum - as well as several important early inscriptions. The absence of later, Angkorian, sites is perhaps indicative of a decline in the importance of maritime trade.

Traces of an ancient route to the north are discernable - which could have linked the port to the numerous Khmer sites of today's Sa Kaeo - while we've also speculated on a possible second route leading from modern-day Pong Nam Ron District east to what are today Battambang and Banteay Meanchey Provinces.

Ancient Khmer Sites in Eastern Thailand - Asger Mollerup (2012) and The Kingdom of Phaniat and the Chong People - Joachim Schliesinger (2022) are both excellent sources for detailed information on the Khmer period in the province and region.