Ku Non Thaen Khmer Ruin

The little bit of Ku Non Thaen (กู่โนนแท่น) that remains sits under a big roof at the back of Batdibattam Don Thaen Temple (สำนักปฏิบัติธรรมดอนแท่น), also known as Samnak Song Ku Non Thaen (สำนักสงฆ์กู่โนนแท่น).

big roof over khmer ruin

All that’s left of this Khmer temple is a small (6x8m) laterite platform at least partially assembled in modern times. The Fine Arts Department has no solid clue about its age, only giving the broad range of 10th to 12th centuries.

front view of Khmer ruin with Buddha in back
flower offerings next to Buddha in front of Khmer ruin
side view of Khmer ruin with Buddha in back

A pair of sandstone pedestals from the site are displayed in front of the temple’s small meeting room.

pedestal
pedestal

Seven Dvaravati bai sema boundary stones, currently displayed behind the wihan show that this area was settled before the Khmer came. And a few pots and bracelets (taken to the Khon Kaen National Museum, but not presently on display) suggest that it may have been long before, back to the Ban Chiang era. There is a small photo album at the temple with blurry pictures of these items. The Ban Chiang period hypothesis is supported by additional artifacts uncovered 300m to the south at Wat Nakakiram in the village.

top of bai sema boundary stone
top of a bai sema boundary stone next to tree

Just 680 meters to the northeast (2.5km by road) is Don That (ดอนธาตุ), a small ruined stupa probably built a few hundred years ago, after the Khmer were long gone.

ruined brick stupa on a little hill

Location – Ban Bueng Sawang, Tambon Ban Lao, Amphoe Ban Fang, Khon Kaen Province

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