Culture
Archaeological Excavation Projec
Archaeological Excavation Projec
Wat Chakkrawat Rachawat Woramahawihan, Samphanthawong District
Rationale
Significance and Current Condition: Wat Chakkrawat Rachawat Woramahawihan is a historically significant ancient temple dating back to the Ayutthaya period. However, its archaeological structures have deteriorated over time.
Insufficiency of Data: The information gathered from preliminary archaeological excavations remains inadequate to fully guide the comprehensive restoration of the historical sites and overall landscape improvements.
Budgetary Constraints: Due to the temple's limited financial resources, it is essential to secure additional funding to ensure the complete and thorough execution of the required archaeological work.
Educational Site Development: The temple grounds currently lack informational exhibits. Therefore, further study is necessary to develop and install educational signage that details the site's historical and archaeological significance for the benefit of the general public and tourists.
Project Objectives
For Conservation: To survey and conduct archaeological excavations within the historical site. The data will be used to accurately design the restoration and landscape improvement of the temple according to academic principles.
For Study/Education:To study the development of historical communities in the Samphanthawong District (Sampheng, Yaowarat, and Talat Noi areas) and the relational context between the community and religious sites.
For Dissemination:To disseminate knowledge of cultural heritage through various activities and media formats, such as creating informational signs for historical sites, organizing seminars and exhibitions, publishing books, and utilizing online media.
Archaeological Excavation Projec
Wat Chakkrawat Rachawat Woramahawihan, Samphanthawong District
Amidst one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts, Wat Chakkrawat Rachawat Woramahawihan stands as a silent witness to the city’s formation over many centuries. Beneath the soil of this sacred space lie hidden traces of the Bangkok-Sampheng community, reflecting the life, beliefs, and development of the city from the Ayutthaya period through the Rattanakosin era. Archaeological study is therefore crucial in revealing these stories and returning history to the public for shared knowledge and joint preservation.
Chakrawatrachawat Woramahawihan Temple (also known as Chakrawat Temple), a second-class royal monastery with history dating back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, is a vital area for studying Bangkok’s history. It served as the center of the Bangkok-Sampheng community and is rich in ancient monuments and sacred sites reflecting the city’s evolution, making it an invaluable source of data for understanding the early Rattanakosin period.
The Fine Arts Department thus initiated the Archaeological Study Project at Chakrawat Temple and Development of the Historical Samphanthanwong Community. The goal is to investigate ancient structures and traces of change within the ancient community. The project is supported by a budget of 1,500,000 THB from The Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation, which provides full cooperation in all stages and offers opportunities for actively through archaeological volunteering.
The clear objectives of this project are: To support the properly restoration and landscape improvement of the temple, grounded in archaeological data, alongside conducting in-depth studies of the historical foundations, art, architecture, and the profound relationship between the temple and the surrounding community. A key focus is the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of public engagement.
In Phase 1/2024, five excavation pits were opened, with over 60 volunteers actively participating in the field. Currently, the data and archaeological artifacts discovered are being compiled to inform the restoration process, create an inventory of artifacts, and plan the conservation of the Chakrawat Temple area in collaboration with the Fine Arts Department, ensuring this invaluable cultural heritage endures.
