VILLAGERS and monks in northern Phayao city district have unearthed over a thousand-year-old seven-tiered pagoda in rice fields expropriated for the construction of Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong double-track railway, Naewna newspaper said today (March 24).
This ancient temple, located near Ban Chedi Ngam community where the construction team is building the railway line, has been known to exist and was called Wat That Nok Saeo.
Aside from lots of old bricks and the base of a lotus-shaped temple pillar, the excavation uncovered the tip of this seven-tiered pagoda which is two metres high and a metre wide at the base.
Villagers and monks from Wat Chedi Ngam used a crane to move it to the temple to await inspection by a Fine Arts Department team.
They also cordoned off the area to prevent amulet experts and treasure hunters from entering.
The community leader has asked the Fine Arts Department to come and survey the remains of the ancient pagoda and preserve it as an ancient site and tourist attraction.
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The ancient pagoda uncovered in Phayao. Photos: Naewna
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