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Pong Tuek Archaeological Site is located in Tha Maka District, Kanchanaburi Province. Scholars believe this area was once the site of an ancient Dvaravati-period city. The settlement dates to approximately the 11th–12th Buddhist centuries, or around 1,000 years ago, and is considered one of the most important pieces of evidence reflecting the prosperity of Dvaravati civilization in western Thailand.

 

The establishment of the ancient city at Pong Tuek was closely connected to the Mae Klong River basin, which served as a major transportation and trade route in ancient times. As a result, the city was not merely an agricultural settlement but functioned as an economic, religious, and cultural center linking the Eastern and Western worlds through both maritime and overland trade networks.

 

Archaeological evidence indicates that the inhabitants of Pong Tuek practiced both Buddhism and Brahmanism simultaneously, reflecting the characteristic openness of Dvaravati society to diverse belief systems. Numerous artifacts discovered at the site demonstrate strong influences from Indian Gupta art, evident in stylistic features, iconography, and religious concepts.

 

Official archaeological excavations began in 1927 under the supervision of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department. These excavations uncovered a large number of Dvaravati-period artifacts, including Roman-style bronze lamps, terracotta votive tablets, a stone-carved image of Vishnu, and various Buddha images. These findings clearly illustrate ancient trade and cultural connections between Suvarnabhumi, India, and the Western world.

 

In 1934, Dr. H. G. Quaritch Wales, a representative of the Greater India Research Committee, conducted further surveys and excavations at Pong Tuek. His work confirmed that this site had once been a large and highly prosperous ancient city around a thousand years ago. These discoveries led to Pong Tuek gaining international recognition as a significant archaeological site in Southeast Asia.

 

Today, some of the artifacts excavated from Pong Tuek are preserved at Wat Dong Sak, located near the archaeological site, while more nationally significant objects are housed and exhibited at the National Museum Bangkok. These institutions play an important role in the conservation and academic study of the site’s cultural heritage.

 

Despite the passage of time, the Pong Tuek Archaeological Site continues to hold immense historical and archaeological value. It serves as an important learning resource for understanding the development of ancient communities, as well as the interrelationship between religion, art, and trade in the region of Suvarnabhumi.

 

Getting There Pong Tuek Archaeological Site is located approximately 37 kilometers south of Kanchanaburi town. Travelers coming from Bangkok should take Highway No. 323. At kilometer markers 92–93, signs indicate a left turn toward the site. After crossing the Chantrubeksa Bridge, Wat Dong Sak will appear on the left. Continue straight past the Pong Tuek Police Substation on the right, and the archaeological site will be located shortly beyond it.

 

 

A: The site dates to approximately 1,000 years ago, during the 11th–12th Buddhist centuries.

 

A: Key discoveries include Roman-style bronze lamps, terracotta votive tablets, a stone image of Vishnu, and Buddha images.

 

A: Both Buddhism and Brahmanism were practiced at the site.

 

A: Artifacts can be viewed at Wat Dong Sak and the National Museum Bangkok.

 

A: The site is well suited for historical tourism and archaeological study visits.