CULTURAL MEANING OF DECORATION MOTIFS ON EARLY 13TH CENTURY CERAMICS MANUFACTURED AT MUENG NAN BAN TAO HAI JAE LIANG AND PHAYAO-VIENG

Abstract

The studies on stoneware jars bearing band f the wary line motifs and glazed bowls/plates representing cosmological model and wheel of law with zoomorphic and spiral motifs at centre ,found form archeological studies art early 13th century ceramic klin sites of Ban Tao Hai Jea-Liang in Nan and Vieng Bua Klin in Phayao indicate a holistic worldview and wisdom about relationship of cosmos, the supernatural, nature people of potters and ceramic-consumers. Decorative motifs on ceramics have cultural meanings as to the value and power that ceramics held at appropriate functions especially for funeral rites. The recent discovery would be the reference for further archeological and art historical study on and early Thai states in Lan na region ,North Thailand.