Saphan Khom, just enough for a short visit, a replica of a historical bridge from the Khmer period (802 to 1431), now a historical site and a monument. A petrified tree stump right next to the bridge is interesting, maybe 10 million years old. The best way to reach the ancient bridge is from the parking lot at Lotus; all you have to do is cross the busy Nittayo Road. The Old Bridge is just 500 meters away from the Sakon Nakhon city gates.
When the Krom Tham Luang Nittaya Highway was built, the Khmer bridge was neglected. A number of people complained and the Khmer bridge was restored to its current state. Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon 47000; It seems this bridge is the only remaining and oldest Khmer bridge in Thailand. The Department of Fine Arts registered the bridge as a historical site in 1982. Only in Cambodia there are a few bridges that are similar in construction and are even still in use.
A petrified tree stump beside the ancient bridge.
According to a report in bangkokbiznews-com with pictures (photographed by the Office of Fine Arts No. 8, Khon Kaen) of the archaeological excavation, the foundation of the bridge was excavated and examined in June 2024.
The Fine Arts Office 8, Khon Kaen, Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture was responsible for the excavation www.finearts.go.th. According to knowledge about the Khmer culture in Tambon That Cheing Chum, Sakon Nakhon Province, the bridge is about 1,000 years old. The bridge is made of laterite. There are channels in the foundation that allow water to pass under the bridge.
The report describes the bridge as follows:
The ancient site of Saphan Khmer is a bridge made of laterite. It is 4 meters wide, 16 meters long and 3 meters high. The bridge consists of a flat surface with laterite edges raised on both sides to form ridges. The lower part, the bridge pier, is made of laterite across the entire width of the bridge, leaving 11 spaces to support the weight of the bridge above and to allow water to flow through.
An assumption of the ancient Khmer bridge: Originally, Saphan Khom was a bridge over a tributary of the Huai Mong, which flowed from the west to Nong Harn Luang in the north.
Age of the ancient Khmer bridge, Sakon Nakhon: The date is determined based on evidence from the ancient Khmer culture found in Sakon Nakhon province. It would have been built around the 16th-18th Buddhist century, or 1,000-800 years ago.
The image is a screenshot from a video of the excavations posted on the Facebook page finearts8.khonkaen. Similar Khmer bridges like this one can be found in the Khmer area of influence.
The two pictures show the bridge from two directions. Seen from the north and south, as it looked around 100 years ago, recognizable by the tree that is no longer there. The source of the pictures is unknown.
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Content last change: September 11 2024