Khao Srivijaya ancient site to be restored by Fine Arts Department
Following the recent discovery of Khao Srivijaya ancient site in Surat Thani's Phunphin district, the Fine Arts Department plans to study the site and then restore it as a tourist attraction.
The 1,300-year-old artefacts found at the site would be moved to the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum.
Anat Bamrungwong, director of the 14th Fine Arts office in Nakhon Si Thammarat, said his office received a budget of Bt4.5 million this year to excavate and restore the 1,500-square metre Khao Srivijaya ancient site, which had begun last month and would end this September.
The discovery of 1,300-year-old items, including the Lord Vishn statue and Hindu phallic symbol, dating from the 12th to the 14th century of the Buddhist era, showed links with other ancient sites of the Srivijaya culture in Southern Thailand, he added.
Project supervisor and archaeological expert Sarat Chalorsantisakul said this ancient site comprised 19 earthen duns along the mountain ridge of Khao Srivijaya. So far, 11 duns have been excavated and a recent dig at the site’s northern part yielded some building ruins and pottery dated from the 14th century of the Buddhist era.
