What began as a routine drainage project at an ancient Thai temple quickly turned into one of the country's most remarkable archaeological discoveries in recent years.
While installing an underground drainage system beneath a 1,300-year-old reclining Buddha statue, workers unexpectedly uncovered a ceramic container filled with 33 gold, silver and bronze artefacts hidden for more than a millennium.
The discovery, announced by Thailand's Fine Arts Department and reported by Tim Newcomb for AOL, has revealed exquisite examples of Dvaravati-era craftsmanship, including rare repoussé metal sheets depicting the Buddha, ceremonial jewellery and ritual offerings.
Archaeologists believe the objects were intentionally buried beneath the monument during its construction, providing an extraordinary glimpse into Thailand's early Buddhist traditions.A routine drainage project led to an extraordinary archaeological discoveryThe remarkable find was made at Wat Dhammachak Semaram in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand, during conservation work at the Phra Non archaeological site.According to the Thailand's Fine Arts Department, workers were excavating a drainage trench roughly 1.3 metres (over four feet) beneath the sandstone reclining Buddha when they uncovered a damaged ceramic container.
