Si Thep Historical Park

Si Thep Historical Park
อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ศรีเทพ
Khao Khlang Nok, one of the largest known ancient Dvaravati structures, 7th–8th century CE
Map
LocationPhetchabun province, Thailand
TypeHuman settlement
Area4.7 square kilometres (470 ha)
History
Founded4th century
Abandoned14th century
PeriodsAncient history
CulturesDvaravati
Associated withMon people
Site notes
Discovered1904
Excavation dates1935
ArchaeologistsDamrong Rajanubhab
ConditionPartial restoration
OwnershipPublic
ManagementFine Arts Department, entry fee
Public accessYes
Architecture
Architectural styles
Official nameThe Ancient Town of Si Thep and Its Associated Dvaravati Monuments
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii
Designated2023 (45th session)
Reference no.1662
Area866.471 ha
RegionAsia and the Pacific

Si Thep Historical Park (Thai: อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ศรีเทพ) is an archaeological site in Thailand's Phetchabun province. It covers the ancient city of Si Thep, a site inhabited from around the third to fifth century CE until the thirteenth century, spanning cultural periods from late prehistory, through Dvaravati, to the golden age of the Khmer Empire. Si Thep was one of the largest known city-states that emerged around the plains of central Thailand in the first millennium, but became abandoned around the time the Thai-speaking cities of Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya emerged as new centres of power in the Chao Phraya River basin.[1]

The site gained the attention of modern archaeology in 1904 following surveys by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, and it was listed as an ancient monument in 1935. The Fine Arts Department has undertaken continued study and excavations of the site, which has also been studied by archaeologists Prince Subhadradis Diskul, H. G. Quaritch Wales and Jean Boisselier, among others.[1]

As per historical evidence found on the site, Si Thep was possibly the center of the Dvaravati mandalas.[2][3] Via royal intermarriage, it was also considered the sister city of Sema, the capital of the neighboring state, Canasapura, located eastward on the opposite side of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains in the Mun River basin.[3]

Si Thep was listed as a historical park in 1984 and was proposed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site by Thailand in 2019.[4] On 19 September 2023, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List as The Ancient Town of Si Thep and Its Associated Dvaravati Monuments. It is Thailand's first successful cultural World Heritage Site nomination since Ban Chiang in 1992.[5][6]

  1. ^ a b "อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ศรีเทพ: ประวัติที่มาและความสำคัญ". virtualhistoricalpark.finearts.go.th (in Thai). Fine Arts Department. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference silp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b ""ศรีเทพ-เสมา" เมืองเครือข่าย ศรีทวารวดี-ศรีจนาศะ?". www.silpa-mag.com (in Thai). 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ Karnjanatawe, Karnjana (28 January 2021). "Unesco to get Si Thep report". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Si Thep historical park recognised as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site". www.thaipbsworld.com.
  6. ^ "As Thai town joins Unesco list, site 'completely unprepared' for tourism". South China Morning Post. 20 September 2023.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search