Archeologists in northeastern Thailand have uncovered rare Buddhist artifacts believed to be more than 1,300 years old, including a nearly intact gold repoussé of a seated Buddha image and an intricately detailed metal plaque, both pointing to the region’s deep spiritual and artistic heritage.
The discovery was made during a conservation project at Wat Thammachak Semaram, a historical site in Sung Noen district, where a large Reclining Buddha image stands out as one of the province’s cultural landmarks.
Phnombootra Chadrajoti, Director-General of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, said the items were unearthed in April during a project aimed at reducing subterranean moisture around the base of the Reclining Buddha.
At a depth of approximately 1.3 meters, archeologists found an earthenware container filled with 33 small ornamental objects made of bronze, silver, and gold.
“These finds are extraordinary,” Phnombootra said in a statement. “They offer significant insights into the craftsmanship and religious devotion of the period.”
Among the artifacts were gold rings, silver earrings, and various bronze ornaments.
While restoring the Reclining Buddha in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thai archeologists uncovered 1,300-year-old Buddhist artifacts.//Photo: Fine Arts Department
A spiral-shaped silver earring stood out for its similarity to pieces found at ancient sites in southern Thailand, including Phu Khao Thong in Ranong and Tha Chana in Surat Thani, both dating to early periods of Buddhist influence.
Even more notable, however, were three larger items found in a separate excavation on 30 April: a gold repoussé plaque, a repoussé made of lead alloy known as chin, and a fragile clump of soil containing embedded metal sheets.
The gold plaque, measuring 8 by 12.5 centimeters, depicts a seated Buddha in a teaching pose, or vitarka mudra, with a prominent halo, snail-shell curls, elongated earlobes, and flowing robes.
Ancient gold plaque showing a seated Buddha in the teaching gesture unearthed beneath the Reclining Buddha sculpture in Nakhon Ratchasima.//Photo: Fine Arts Department
The figure is seated cross-legged on a lotus pedestal.
A small hole on one side suggests it may have been used as a hanging ornament or ritual item.
The second plaque, made of a lead-tin alloy, shows a standing Buddha in a curved arch, flanked by two attendants. Though damaged on the right side, the remaining figure to the left is believed to represent the deity Brahma.
The style and iconography closely resemble Dvaravati-period Buddhist art, a tradition that flourished in central Thailand between the 6th and 11th centuries.
Unearthed in Nakhon Ratchasima, a gold plaque of a seated Buddha in vitarka mudra and a chin plaque showing a standing Buddha flanked by attendants both reflect the artistic style of the Dvaravati period.//Photo: Fine Arts Department
Phnombootra noted similarities between the newly found repoussé and a well-known plaque discovered decades ago at Wat Phra Prathon Chedi (a 1,300-year-old Dvaravati site in Nakhon Pathom province), now exhibited in the Dvaravati Art Room at Bangkok National Museum.
These artifacts reaffirm the historical significance of Sung Noen as an important religious center during the Dvaravati era.
The third item — a lump of soil with three metal sheets layered among fragments of plaster — remains under examination due to its fragile condition.
It was located behind the head of the Reclining Buddha, an area archeologists now suspect may have served as a cache or ceremonial deposit.
All recovered items have been transferred to the Phimai National Museum for cataloguing, preservation, and further analysis. Initial conservation efforts are already underway.
The Fine Arts Department believes the findings could help expand understanding of early Buddhist art in the Khorat Plateau, a region often overshadowed by the better-known Dvaravati sites of central Thailand.
Sung Noen, which lies along ancient trade routes, has yielded other significant artifacts in the past, but this latest discovery may be among the most valuable yet.
The latest discovery in Sung Noen is not just about uncovering beautiful Buddhist art. It’s about piecing together the cultural and spiritual history of those who lived in today’s Thailand 1,300 years ago.
