Sri Thep Historical Park

Sri Thep Historical Park

Srithep Ancient Town approximately 240 kilometers north of Bangkok,is located in Sri Thep
district,Phetchabun Province.Sri Thep covers 47 square kilometers and is enclosed by two
concentric moats.It was characterized as a twin town; Muang Nai refers to the inner structure
of the town and Muang Nok to the outer structure of the town.

Muang Nai is cricular in plan,covering 2.08 square kilometers,and has eight entrances. There
are three large monuments-Prang Sri Thep,Prang Song Phi Nong,and Khao Klang
Nai-about 37 archaeilogical sites,and 70 ponds dispersed within the town.At present ,
these sites have all been restored by the Royal Thai Fine Arts Department.Muang Nok is
located to the east of Muang Nai, It is rectangular is rectangangular is plan and covers an area
of 2.54 square kilometers.It has seven entrances,54 small archaeological sites,and 30 ponds.

Outside the ancient town,there ae approximately 50 archaeclogical sites.The most important
sites are located on the north side of the town,and Khao Tha Morat cave which is the only
archaeological site on the mountain; It is located on the west side of Sri Thep.

Sri Thep ancient town was originally abandoned to the jungle.According to a monk,the local villagers called its name that " Muang Apai Sali" in 1904.Sri Thep's name first appeared
in written accounts when Prince Damrong visited Phetchabun province.He intentionally searched
for an ancient town named " Sri Thep" which he found this name in Ayuddhaya and Early Rattanakosin 's archives.

Social And Cultural Development
Early communities settled in Sri Thep ancient town.Ancient town and surrounding sites uncovered
evidence of late prehistoric death ritual dating to the 1st.- 2nd. century A.D. Around the 2 th.-6 th.
century A.D. Indian influence diffused into the Indochina penninsula via contact with Indian and Arab
trading networks.Later the local village societies.Clearly,Sri Thep has gone through several cultural
changes.

Dvaravati period,(7 th.-11 th. Century A.D.)
in Sri Thep ancient town was circular in plan which is typical of Dvaravati
culture.To protect themselves from flooding and to access water during periods of drought,the
inhabitants dug a number of large ponds and moats around the town.

The Sri Thep compound is composed of Khao Klang Nai and a number of small archaeological

Continue reading here: Lop Buri Province

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