Iron Age burial mound uncovered in centre of Nakhon Ratchasima reservoir

Archaeologists have discovered a wealth of prehistoric artifacts, including human skeletons and rare pottery, in the centre of the Mun Bon reservoir in Khon Buri district in Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Officials from the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts, alongside experts from the Maha Weerawong National Museum and the Archaeology Group, inspected the site yesterday. The area, located in Taling Chan village of Chorakhe Hin sub-district, has now been officially designated as the ‘Mun Bon Dam 1 (Non Ko Chot) Archaeological Site’.

The inspection revealed significant archaeological evidence pointing to an Iron Age settlement, estimated to be between 1,400 and 2,400 years old.

Among the items scattered across the site were human skeletons, burial pottery, iron tools, glass beads, polished stone adzes and clay spindle whorls.

The highlight of the discovery is an intact Phimai Black ceramic vessel, measuring 24.5 centimetres in diameter, 11cm in height and 0.7cm in thickness. Experts noted that this is the first time an undamaged piece of Phimai Black pottery has been found in the southern part of Nakhon Ratchasima, making it the discovery closest to the headwaters of the Mun River to date.

Phimai Black pottery is a specialised style of prehistoric earthenware, widely found throughout the Upper Mun River basin. It was first discovered in 1964 during excavations at Phimai Historical Park, and was later found by chance during land levelling at the Ban Suai archaeological site in Phimai district. The unique style was officially named by the late American archaeologist, Professor Wilhelm G. Solheim II.

Based on the evidence collected, archaeologists believe the site originally served as a prehistoric burial mound. The age of the site was determined by comparing the intact vessel to similar Phimai Black pottery previously excavated at the Ban Suai site.