Ancient pier found at Samut Sakhon
Fine Arts officials have found a 1,000-year-old pier in Samut Sakhon's Muang district with ceramics that suggest Greek or Roman ships may have visited.
This prompted a grant of Bt700,000 to the local fine arts office to excavate and study the site, to turn it into a centre for learning its history and studying ancient navigation.
Department head Anek Sihamat said officials recently visited the excavation site near Wat Wisutthijindaran in Panthai Norasing sub-district.
There was evidence to suggest ships from China visited the pier, as Tang dynasty ceramics had been found. There were also amphora ceramics, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
He said this was an important find and suggested the 1,000-year-old pier received travellers from Rome and other European civilisations, and distant Asian countries such as Turkey.
A 13-metre mainmast and some ropes were also unearthed along with other ancient items, which were now kept at Wat Wisutthijindaran, he said.
