1300-Year-Old Gold and Silver Relics Unearthed Beneath Thailand's Oldest Reclining Buddha Statue in 2025
In April 2025, Thailand's Fine Arts Department announced a significant archaeological discovery at Wat Dhammachak Semaram (also spelled Wat Thammachak Semaram) in Sung Noen District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand. During routine conservation work, workers uncovered a collection of well-preserved gold, silver, and bronze artifacts buried beneath the base of the temple's colossal sandstone reclining Buddha statue. This statue, measuring over 13 meters (approximately 43 feet) in length, is widely regarded as Thailand's oldest and longest reclining Buddha sculpture, dating back to the 7th century CE during the height of the Dvaravati period (6th–11th centuries CE). The Discovery Process and Initial Findings The artifacts came to light incidentally during efforts to install an underground drainage system aimed at reducing moisture accumulation around the statue's foundation. On April 21, 2025, at a depth of about 1.3 meters, workers encountered a damage...