Tomb dig yields new discovery

Tomb dig yields new discovery

By Phyo Wai Kyaw and Hlaing Kyaw Soe   |   Sunday, 10 November 2013

As part of ongoing excavations at the resting place of an 18th-century Thai king, archaeologists in Mandalay say they've discovered the remains of a building they believe was once a monastery.

A man takes a photo of a newly discovered building near the site of Thai King Udombhara's tomb in Mandalay's Amarapura township. (Phyo Wai Kyaw/The Myanmar Times)

After Thai King Udombhara was captured during the sacking of Ayuthaya in Thailand in the 1760s, he was brought back to Myanmar along with thousands of other prisoners of war. He spent the next 29 years living in Myanmar as a monk, but the location of his grave was lost after his death.

For the past eight months, a dig has been underway at Amarapura's Linn Zin Kone cemetery, located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) south of Mandalay, beside Taungthaman Lake. Those involved in the joint Thai-Myanmar excavation say that urns and other evidence discovered at the site make a convincing case that Linn Zin Kone cemetery is the king's burial ground.

They also say they've now unearthed another fascinating find: the remains of a building they believe once served as a monastery.

"We continued the excavation at the site believed to be a monastery, and found a building that we believe was used to hold stone inscriptions," said U Phoe Wai, a member of the group searching and excavating historical records. "We have also found a glazed gutter but so far we have only excavated the surface."

U Phoe Wai said the site, which will ultimately become a historical park, is already proving a hit with visitors.

"More than 1000 tourists have come to see the site while it is being excavated," he said, adding that most visitors are from Thailand, America, Germany and China.

Thai team member Vichit Chinalai said the site will be handed over to the regional government as a gift once work is complete. Thai groups are funding the excavation project.

"Some locals think that Thai people have come here to take this land," Mr Vichit said. "That's wrong. This project is not a business for us. It is just to build a good relationship between Myanmar and Thailand."

He added that while he couldn't estimate the project's total cost, it is already employing about 100 people from the area.

"In the past, this place was overgrown and looked like a potential crime scene. But it will become a historical park that tourists will want to visit."

Translation by Thiri Min Htun

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/tomb-dig-yields-new-discovery/