Muang Phin
| Native Name | ເມືອງມພິນ, មឿងភិន |
|---|---|
| BA# | L13013 |
| Size | Medium |
| Condition | Tuol |
| Type | Temple |
| Location | |
| District | Phin |
| Province | Savannakhet |
| Country | Laos |
| Coordinates | 16.51025, 106.01296 |
| History | |
| Founded | (?) |
| Builder | (?) |
| Material | Sandstone |
Muang Phin (ເມືອງມພິນ - Pronounced: Moo-ang Pin)
A rectangular, vegetation-covered area, aligned north-south containing several mound sites featuring what appears to be a mixture of Mon and Khmer vestiges. A number of sema stones can be seen along with carved sandstone blocks which EFEO archaeologists have identified as displaying Khmer characteristics. The rectangle is contained within a larger square area - aligned east-west and today filled with paddy-fields which is bordered by straight lines of vegetation particularly on the south side where a 20m wide and 250m long embankment can be clearly seen and which was also reported to feature sandstone blocks. (Including probable pedestals.)
Additionally a small square reservoir - still water-filled at certain times of the year - can be perceived on the east side of the square. It is conceivable that the wooded rectangle corresponded to the temple section of a wider settlement marked by the square outline but that is just one hypothesis. It's also not clear if the site was inhabited by Mon and Khmer at the same time or if it was founded by Mon and later fell under the control of the Khmers?
The location is interesting as this area - in the east of Savannakhet Province - forms the last flat land before the start of the Annamite mountains. The area would have been valuable to both early Mon and Khmer as a trading post both with Vietnam - which today lies some 70kms east as the crow flies - as well as the mountain themselves which contain important mineral deposits. We say as the crow flies as present-day Route 9a follows a torturous, narrow valley route, via the town of Sepong (Xepong), to the border crossing at Lao Bao. (1) This route was undoubtedly also the one used by early traders.
(1) From Lao Bao the route emerges into what was later to become the DMZ and indeed passes the notorious site of Khe Sanh before reaching the coast beyond Dong Ha. In earlier times Cham lands lay to the south and Dai Viet to the north.
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