Archaeologists discovered a 1300-year-old gold treasure under the Buddha statue

Archaeologists in Thailand managed to discover 33 ancient works of gold, silver and bronze under the sleeping Buddha statue which is nearly 1300 years old. Among these finds are rare metal sheets with delicate reliefs of the Buddha’s face and intricate works of art that are a shining example of the skill of Dvaravati period artisans and ritual gifts of that era. The Phimai National Museum is now protecting and preserving these historical relics, which include exquisite jewelry and religious objects, for further study and careful restoration.

Digging a drainage system is usually a boring and unexciting process, but there are always exceptions. Recently in Thailand, diggers working at the temple complex of Wat Thammachak Sema Ram discovered a treasure of gold hidden under a sleeping Buddha statue.

When the excavations reached a depth of more than 1.2 meters below the sandstone statue, the excavation team came across a clay vessel. According to the statement of the Department of Fine Arts of Thailand, inside this container were 33 pieces of ancient ornaments made of gold, silver and bronze. The collection included gold rings, silver earrings, and a pair of bronze hoop earrings, which were similar in style to other artifacts from the Dvaravati period, about 1,300 years ago.

With the discovery of the first treasure box, the archeology team members continued to search for more objects with more enthusiasm, while at the same time advancing their restoration work at the Phra Non ancient site. They excavated around the statue, which is known as the tallest (about 13.1 meters long) and the oldest sleeping Buddha in the country, and its construction dates back to 657 AD. Following the excavations, three more finds were found, which included hammered metal sheets with delicate motifs and were made using a technique known as repoussé.

One of these discoveries was a rectangular sheet of gold with dimensions of approximately 7.6 x 12.7 cm, which depicted a seated Buddha image in the teaching position. In this role, the Buddha is seen with spiral hair rings, a large halo around the head, elongated ear lobes and a robe that falls over one shoulder. In the upper right corner of the work, there is a small hole, which indicates that this piece was probably hung with a thread and may have been used as an ornament or a ritual pendant. Phanonbut Chantrachot, director general of the Fine Arts Department of Thailand, confirmed this and stated that this piece is one of the rare works of great importance in terms of artistic and religious details.

Among other finds, a sheet of lead and tin alloy was also found, which depicts a standing Buddhist image in an arched frame. The dimensions of this piece are about 11.4 x 15.2 cm and two companions are seen next to the main figure. One of the companions is missing due to injury, but the other appears to be a Thai representation of the Hindu god Brahma.

The third piece discovered consisted of several stacked metal sheets embedded in compacted mud with layers of mortar. According to Chantrachot, due to the damage, the exact number of these layers has not been determined, but the place carved behind the sleeping Buddha’s head has led archaeologists to believe that this work was a ritual offering that was deliberately buried in that particular spot.

Currently, the Phimai National Museum is responsible for the preservation, cataloging and careful documentation of these gold artifacts so that they can be publicly displayed in the near future and used in historical research on the art and rituals of the Dvaravati period.