Damrong Journal of The Faculty of Archaeology Silpakorn University

Editorial Team

2025-12-30T15:09:57+07:00

Editorial

2025-12-30T15:12:42+07:00

Peer Review

2025-12-30T15:14:40+07:00

ก่อร่างสร้างภูมิทัศน์ทางพุทธศาสนายุคต้นประวัติศาสตร์ของภาคอีสาน มุมมองใหม่จากหลักฐานโบราณคดีและศิลปกรรมบนที่ราบสูงโคราช Buddhist Landscapes Art and Archaeology of the Khorat Plateau, 7th to 11 th Centuries โดย Stephen A. Murphy

2025-12-29T23:02:01+07:00

Port Towns, Ancient Settlements and Trade Routes along the Pak Mangkon- Pak Kong Corridor

2025-10-21T17:44:51+07:00

The study of port towns, ancient urban centers, trade routes,and settlement patterns along the Pak Mangkon-Pak Kong corridor is considered part of the research project entitled "Ancient Coastal Land-
scapes, Port Cities, Trade Routes, and the Emergence of Early Settle-ments in Thailand within the Civilizational Context of Suvarnabhumi." This project has employed aerial photography, satellite imagery interpre-tation to analyzed and cartographic analysis to examine the interconnec-
tions of ancient port towns along the route stretching from the mouth of the Tavoy River (Pak Mangkon) to the mouth of the Mekong River (Pak Kong). The investigation encompasses local interactions associated with regional relationship, with emphasis on ancient communities situated along the route, notably key urban centers and their settlement environ-ments. These findings indicate that there were eleven notaby key urban centers, namely, the Tavoy, the Singh, the Nakhon Pathom-Ratchaburi, the Si Mahosot-Phra Rot, the Phai, the Yasodharapura-Hariharalaya, the
Koh Ker-Bakan-Sambor Prei Kuk, the Lavek, the Prei Nokor, the Kampot, and the Mekong Delta. Along the route, twenty significant ancient towns have been found. Detailed analyses of their urban layouts and settle-ment environments revealed the method and archaeological finding an
importance of this corridor in history and its role in shaping patterns of interaction, trade, and early state formation within the Suvarnabhumi area.

Ban Wang Phai Inscription: The Historical Context of The Relationship Between Si Thep, Dvaravati and Chenla

2025-05-25T15:07:17+07:00

The Ban Wang Phai inscription, discovered at the ancient town
of Si Thep in Phetchabun Province, significantly serves to illustrate the status of early states of Thai history. The text of inscription has been variously interpreted. The aim of the article is to give an explanation of the text by taking two approaches to studying perception; i.e., a new epigraphic research and archaeology findings. The result highlights the contextual role of a king of Si Thep in mid-7th century CE. He and kings of two states (known to China as Funan and Zhenla [Chenla]) plausibly descended from common ancestral lineage. The evidence suggests that the kingship clan at the royal court and political system of King Ishanav-arman I continued to exercise its influence on Si Thep and other infe-rior states of Dvaravati until the early reign of King Bhavavarman ll (r.628-655). Si Thep had its own monarchic regime since then. The previous inferior states were likewise governed by their own rule. Consequently, Si Thep and states of Dvaravati were diplomatically known to the great Tang dynasty of China. They developed and maintained their eco-politi-cal and culture polities for a long period of time.

When Metal Tells the Story Behind Buddhist Art: An Elemental analysis of Buddha Images at the Gallery of Wat Benchanmabophit

2025-09-29T13:33:47+07:00

The diversity of Buddha images in the gallery of Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram reflects the elegance of Buddhist arts in each artistic tradition across different styles and periods. Although there are some historical records of the Buddha images, some information remains contradictory. The use of scientific analysis provides strong evidence for critical explanation of some hypothesis. In this study, 52 Buddha images in the gallery were analyzed. The analysis of 19 replicas in the reign of King Rama V revealed different elemental patterns from the ancient ones providing insights into their historical contexts and hypothesizing the relationships of some Buddha images. The study of 29 ancient Buddha images relocated from different locations, contributes into the foundation of scientific database of Thai Buddha images. In addition, the database assembled with statistical analysis provides an important record of casting composites as well as the clustering of artistic traditions. The variation in quantity of copper, tin, lead, and zinc reflects typical characters of Buddha images that illustrates the transformation of metalsmith’s techniques through time. Integrating scientific methods into the analysis of ancient artifacts is a promising technology to enhance knowledge and offer a new perspective in Thai history. This approach encourages discussion and intensive study to further benefiting the nation.

Semiotics in Buddha Image Board (Phra Phaeng Maii) of Lamphun Province

2025-07-15T07:46:23+07:00

This research aims to analyze the semiology of buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) in Lamphun Province. The study results found that there were 35 buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) in Lamphun Province that were surveyed and used for study, which can be classified into 5 styles: 1) frame-shaped niche, 2) castle-shaped niche, 3) ancient-style niche, 4) female-front niche, and 5) lotus-petal frame. There are three inscribed buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) in Lamphun Province: one buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) in the temple of Wat Ban Pang and two buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) in the temple of Wat Nong Nguak. Analysis of buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) according to Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic theory can be concluded as follows: 1) Iconic mode consists of 1.1) The wooden panels that decorate the Buddha images have a meaning that represents the Buddha's residence or the Gandhakuṭī 1.2) The Buddha images represent the Buddha. 2) Indexical mode: Analyzed from the decoration of many Buddha images on the wooden panels, there are references to all the Buddhas who have appeared in the world. 3) The symbolic form (Sign, Symbol) related to Lanna culture can be analyzed from 3.1) The case of the decoration of Lamphun Buddha amulets in various forms on buddha image board (phra phaeng maii), which conveys the value of collecting valuable Buddha amulets. 3.2) Analysis from the patterns on the buddha image board (phra phaeng maii), including the flower patterns, meaning flowers used to worship the Buddha, and 3.3) Analysis from the inscriptions on the buddha image board (phra phaeng maii), which convey the wishes of the creator, with meanings of the three happiness principles and five causes of the extinction of Buddhism.

Western-styled Buildings in Bangkok: Shophouses and Commercial Buildings in Khlong Khu Mueang Doem Canal Area

2025-09-22T12:47:40+07:00

This research article aims to present the study of shophouse and commercial buildings in the area of the Khlong Khu Mueang Doem Canal (former city moat). It examines architectural styles, as well as the social and historical contexts of change from around the beginning of the reign of King Rama V onwards. The study found that overall, the buildings were influenced by Western architectural styles. This influence can be observed through the adoption of certain architectural elements and ornaments applied to these shophouses. Beginning in the period of King Rama V, building decorations were commonly adapted for use on the façade, showing a gradual development in building appearance toward a modern architectural style and structure over time.
The study of the historical context also revealed that the area of the former city moat, which was close to the inner city, was a significant location where palaces and diverse communities were established during the early Rattanakosin period. However, following the significant economic development after the Bowring Treaty, this marked the beginning of physical development in the area, including the construction of roads and the orderly erection of roadside buildings. Additionally, as this newly developed location became the downtown area, it attracted business owners to continuously rent space there to open shops and stores. A major factor behind this development was that land ownership in the area belonged to the elite class in society or was under government control, allowing for the sustained construction of buildings.

Pittayasatien Bridge : Connecting People to District and City

2025-12-26T18:13:58+07:00

Pitthayasatien Bridge is a small landmark in Bangkok that reflects the transformation of the capital city from a water-based city to a land-based city. This bridge is part of the transportation route on Charoen Krung Road and is an important link between Charoen Krung Road and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, both of which have been major transportation and shipping routes in Bangkok since the era of economic growth and modernization in various aspects during the reign of King Mongkut. In the broader context of the city, Pitthayasatien Bridge is an important link from the city center to the southern outskirts, which were the trading areas of Westerners. The bridge is located at the mouth of Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem on the south bank of the city, an area with a large number of factories, rice mills, and shops. At the same time, in the context of a small district, this bridge, which is part of the Charoen Krung Road alignment, connected people between the Talat Noi and Bang Rak areas, creating a commercial hub during the era when roads were replacing rivers and canals.

Originally a wooden bridge, Pitthayasatien Bridge was later upgraded to an iron bridge. The bridge has been used constantly, enduring the heat and rain, and passing countless vehicles and people for a very long time. It became a landmark of the Charoen Krung commercial district. The necessity for people to cross this bridge became even more apparent during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, when the Ministry of Public Works prepared a plan to close the road for repairs and replacement of the iron bridge in 1899. This highlighted the limitations of the main transportation routes concentrated only on the inner side of Bangkok along the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal, which were becoming insufficient for the city's growth. However, the attempt to solve traffic problems with "road solutions" following the road closure for repairs on the Pitthayasatien Bridge was a key factor in the subsequent acceleration of urban development by constructing roads on the outer side of the capital, defined by the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal.

The Transmission of Local History through Government-Initiated Street Art: A Case of Street Art under the Maha Chesadabodindranusorn Bridge, Nonthaburi Province.

2025-10-16T12:00:28+07:00

This research examines the transmission of local history through street art initiated and implemented by governmental agencies, with a case study of the street art project under the Maha Chesadabodindranusorn Bridge in Nonthaburi Province. The project was carried out under an urban revitalization and development initiative aimed at promoting creative tourism in the domains of history, sports, lifestyle, and health. Street arts were designed and executed by government-commissioned artists, primarily depicting local landmarks, provincial symbols, and cultural practices. The incorporation of three-dimensional painting techniques and augmented reality technology was intended to enhance tourist engagement and attraction.

The findings, however, reveal that the street art communicates meaning predominantly at the denotative level, emphasizing straightforward representation to ensure accessibility for tourists. Historical and cultural narratives related to Koh Kret and the Mon community were selectively highlighted, reflecting governmental priorities in shaping the content. Due to the top-down process of implementation, the project differs significantly from other street art tourism sites, lacking dimensions that emphasize the significance of place and community participation. Particularly absent are narratives of the San Lak Mueang Dem community and the local history of Bang Si Muang, where the project is situated. Moreover, the role of artists was constrained to executing predetermined governmental frameworks, limiting opportunities for creative expression rooted in community perspectives.

The study underscores critical challenges in utilizing street art as a medium for transmitting local history and identity within a state-driven framework. While the artworks contribute to image-making and tourism promotion, they simultaneously diminish the role of street art as a socio-cultural tool for community voice and dialogue. The research highlights the necessity of incorporating local participation in order to ensure that the transmission of historical narratives through street art is both authentic and sustainable.

Ellipsis and Cultural Conceptual Compression in the Linguistic Structures of Thai Toponyms: A Case Study of Village and Community Names in Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province

2025-11-11T16:01:13+07:00

This study examines the naming processes of Thai toponyms found in village and community names in Samut Sakhon Province in order to analyze their linguistic structures, the cultural concepts embedded within them, the types of omitted elements, and the role of ellipsis in shaping cultural conceptual meanings. The research focuses on the partial ellipsis of structural components in village names and its effects on the transmission of cultural meaning. Data were collected from 47 village names and analyzed using a six-component linguistic framework: toponym, base element, embedded element, core element, head word, and omitted element. The findings reveal that toponyms convey cultural concepts ambiguously due to conceptual compression resulting from ellipsis, which can be classified into ten types, with nouns being the most frequently omitted. Ellipsis in toponyms is not merely a grammatical mechanism but a process of conceptual compression through which communities communicate cultural meanings concisely. However, the elliptical elements may reduce the effectiveness of village names as cultural markers and may contribute to the erosion of cultural landscapes at the micro-structural level. The findings support applications in toponymic database development, geospatial information management, and the preservation of linguistic and cultural heritage at the community level.

Ban Lod Inscription: Evidence of the settlement of Lan Chang during the 22nd Buddhist Century in the middle Mong River Basin

2025-10-09T11:49:42+07:00

This article has the objectives: 1. To study the importance of the Mong Klang River basin area. 2. To study the historical development of the ancient Ban Lod community from the Ban Lod inscription. As a relationship with the Muang Phan community In the area surrounding Phu Phrabat Historical Park, Mueang Phan Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province In the early 22nd century. It is a descriptive analytical research. There are research tools, including interviews, with a target group of 15 people from a specific selection. Then use the information obtained from the interview form. and research field visits archaeological data collection survey and historical Let's analyze the data. Content-oriented The research results found that 1) Ban Lod inscription It is important evidence that can indicate the group of people who have developed in the Ban Lod community. 2) Middle Mong River Basin area It is important for human settlements from prehistoric to historical times. There is a Mueang Phan community in the area surrounding Phu Phrabat Historical Park, Mueang Phan Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province. It is an important marker for people seeking a place to settle, which is a sacred mountain. According to beliefs shared with other similar communities. From the 22nd Buddhist century onwards, evidence of the widespread settlement of people in the Lan Xang period appeared. There are also traces of the cultural influence of Lan Xang in large numbers, including the cultivation of land and rice which reflects the importance of the middle Mong River Basin area This research can be a database for studying nearby communities and which appears historical traces or archaeological traces from a similar time period They can also study the importance of connections that may form networks between other ancient communities.

Mai2 Hăn-Ākāś : Origin and Development

2025-12-04T15:14:10+07:00

This research aims to investigate the origin and development of Mai² Hăn-Ākāś, the diacritic mark in the Thai language. The study employs an analytical approach using evidence from inscriptions and ancient manuscripts to examine and verify relevant hypotheses. The findings reveal that the use of Mai² Hăn-Ākāś originated during the Sukhothai period. It was derived from the subscript form of the consonant ง or the character -  from Khmer-Thai script, which corresponds to the Thai alphabet ง, and was initially employed to replace the reduplicated consonant form งง in Ăkṣar Hăn (turned letter), representing syllables with the vowel /a/ and the final consonant /ŋ/. Subsequently, its application extended to syllable with /a/ followed by other final consonants, and to syllable with the vowel /ua/ without a final consonant. Evidence indicates that these developments occurred alongside the abandonment of writing conjoined consonants and the adoption of Mai² Hăn-Ākāś as a substitute for the earlier hăn form in Thai orthography. The influence of Mai² Hăn-Ākāś is also observed in the Fakkham script and Middle Khmer inscriptions.

Didactic Literature for Children on the Suphasit Son Dek and the Cpap Kun Cau: A Comparative Study of Teaching Strategies

2025-11-29T12:24:37+07:00

This research article examines didactic literature aimed at educating children in Thailand and Cambodia, with a focus on comparing the teaching strategies employed in Suphasit Son Dek (Thai Proverbs for Children) and Cpap Kun Cau (Khmer Teachings for Children). Both texts are anonymous works designed to instill moral and ethical values in children, with content rooted in Buddhist scriptures such as Lokaniti, Dhammaniti, and the Tipitaka. Shared instructional methods found in both texts include direct teaching (both prescriptive and prohibitive), the use of proverbs and canonical teachings, and figurative language—such as simile and metaphor—to make abstract Buddhist principles more accessible to young minds. Suphasit Son Dek uniquely incorporates didactic storytelling, drawing from Jataka tales, Buddhist canonical stories, and Thai folktales to illustrate moral lessons. In contrast, Cpap Kun Cau employs rhetorical questions to encourage critical thinking and moral reasoning among children. Additionally, some proverbs appear in both cultural contexts, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage, similar values, and common religious foundations. These literary works thus serve not only as tools for moral instruction but also as evidence of cultural interconnectedness between Thailand and Cambodia within the framework of Theravada Buddhism.

Speech Acts in Patriotic Songs of India

2025-11-17T15:41:12+07:00

The article “Speech Acts in Indian Patriotic Songs” aims to analyze the mechanisms of speech acts manifested in 45 Indian patriotic songs, based on Searle's (1969, 1979) theoretical framework of illocutionary and perlocutionary acts. A quantitative analysis of 858 instances reveals a distinct hierarchy among the five types: the most frequently occurring are Assertives/Representatives (30.43%) and Expressives (27.73%), followed by Directives (23.31%) and Commissives (16.67%). In contrast, Declarations are rarely found (only 1.86%). This hierarchy indicates that the primary function of patriotic songs is to construct belief and emotional solidarity rather than to perform institutional declarations. This study helps academics, students, and interested parties to see the crucial role of language as an instrument for awakening patriotic consciousness and fostering national unity amid the cultural diversity of the Indian people.

From Audit Culture to Development Evaluation : A Reflection on the Use of Anthropology for Evaluation

2025-11-10T10:12:46+07:00

This article aims to reflects on applying an anthropological approach to program evaluation, specifically by comparing the underlying audit culture with anthropological methodology. The researchers’ experience evaluating a youth and child management unit, a systemic innovation designed to support local child-focused work, as data for the article's reflection. The analysis reveals that audit culture, which prioritizes quantitative outcomes, creates a burden by oversimplifying and standardizing the work of the unit being evaluated. This often overlooks their specific expertise and unique operational contexts. In contrast, anthropology helps reveal contextual differences, including varying capital, especially cultural capital, work processes, and outcomes. The article argues that an anthropological perspective provides a compelling alternative for evaluation, aligning more effectively with the principles of developmental evaluation that prioritize learning and improvement over mere accountability.

“Just a Wife”: Five Scapes of Cross Border Life of Burmese Woman Rubber Plantation Workers in Chachoengsao Province.

2025-12-27T12:42:30+07:00

This article aims to present the lives of Burmese woman workers within the context of rubber plantations in Chachoengsao Province through the concept of Global Cultural flows in a cross-border world. These women lack legal status and employment status, but still maintain the status of “wives” of rubber plantation workers in Chachoengsao Province. The status of being a “wife” therefore provides an opportunity for Burmese female workers to follow their husbands to work in rubber plantations. Burmese women demand better living opportunities through better wages and a better quality of life in Thailand. They are able to present their Burmese identity, access to a monetary system, a life lived through technology, free access to information, the ability to consume, and the ability to care for their families waiting in Burma as a cultural way of repaying their parents.

Displacement and Individual History in the Novel City of Small Blessings by Simon Tay

2025-08-21T15:54:45+07:00

This research aims to analyze the novel City of Small Blessings by Singaporean male writer Simon Tay. This novel presents the definition of Singaporean nationality, especially the people’s feelings towards Singapore as their homeland, by having the characters face a state of displacement through migration to live overseas. The characters return to Singapore to reconnect with their memories of their homeland and use the narrative to complete their identities. This research aims to analyze the state of displacement and personal history that appear in the story, to see how displacement affects the characters’ individual history narratives, and how the individual history of Singaporeans affects the construction of national identity. The research uses a close reading method and the theoretical framework of displacement, identity construction and alternative histories to support the analysis. The results of the analysis are that displacement drives diaspora to search for their own and national identities, community memory is an alternative history of national history, and individual history completes individual and national identities.

Proust et l'expérience de la lecture : un regard anthropologique

2025-08-27T17:52:55+07:00

Dans « Sur la lecture », Marcel Proust explore la lecture comme une expérience fondatrice, à la croisée du rituel intime et de la formation intellectuelle. En adoptant une perspective anthropologique, on constate que Proust en fait un acte initiatique, particulièrement déterminant durant l’enfance. Les lectures solitaires, pratiquées dans la chambre silencieuse, instaurent un espace sacralisé propice à la résonance affective, à la mémoire et à la construction de soi.

Proust présente la lecture comme une pratique à la fois secrète et transgressive, porteuse d’indépendance et d’introspection. Il associe la solitude du lecteur à une dimension spirituelle : la chambre devient une chapelle, et lire s’apparente à un rite.

Cette expérience dépasse toutefois la sphère individuelle. Bien avant Bourdieu, Proust montre comment la culture littéraire participe à la distinction sociale et à la transmission des valeurs familiales. La question du rôle du lecteur et de son implication : la véritable lecture commence lorsque la pensée du lecteur prend le relais de celle de l’auteur. Lire devient alors un acte de création et de transformation de soi.

Développement d’un guide de visite autonome en français pour le village de Tha Rae, province de Sakon Nakhon

2025-09-22T12:56:49+07:00

Cette étude visait à 1) explorer les ressources touristiques du village de Tha Rae, situé dans la province de Sakon Nakhon, 2) concevoir un guide de visite autonome en français, et 3) en évaluer la qualité. Les étapes opérationnelles comprenaient : 1) la réalisation d’un travail de terrain pour collecter des informations de base et sur les ressources touristiques, incluant des entretiens avec des habitants locaux impliqués ou non dans le tourisme ; 2) la conception d’un guide de visite autonome en français à partir de données primaires issues du terrain et de données secondaires issues de la recherche documentaire ; 3) l’évaluation de la qualité du guide par cinq experts, suivie d’un développement et d’un affinement supplémentaires pour en améliorer la qualité et la pertinence ; et 4) l’évaluation de la qualité du guide révisé par trente touristes francophones. Les instruments de recherche utilisés étaient : 1) des formulaires de collecte de données et d’entretien, et 2) un formulaire d’évaluation de la qualité du guide. Les données qualitatives ont été analysées par analyse de contenu, et les données quantitatives par statistiques descriptives. Les résultats de la recherche indiquent que le village de Tha Rae dispose de ressources touristiques diversifiées, tant naturelles que culturelles. Le guide développé se présente sous la forme d’un e-book vertical au format A4, adapté à une utilisation sur des appareils numériques. Les évaluations de qualité, tant par les experts que par les touristes, se sont situées au niveau le plus élevé dans toutes les dimensions d’évaluation (M > 4,21). Les résultats de la recherche offrent plusieurs applications pratiques : 1) le village de Tha Rae peut utiliser ce guide pour la promotion du tourisme ; 2) les touristes francophones peuvent s’en servir pour des visites autonomes du village de Tha Rae ; et 3) les guides touristiques, les personnes intéressées et les apprenants de français peuvent accéder à des informations sur le village de Tha Rae en français grâce à ce guide.

Writing a new past in the history: Positioning the local history in the national one

2025-05-13T12:52:45+07:00

The writing of local history after the B.E. 2540s underwent significant changes. Specifically, the 60th anniversary of King Rama IX's reign led to the development of local history that was closely linked with the royal nationalism ideology, which centers on the nation, religion, and monarchy. This approach is also referred to as “Royal Nationalist Local History.” It represents a blending of the narratives of localism and royal nationalism to anchor local history within the nation, with the monarchy at its core. Writing local history in this royal nationalist manner is connected to the construction of identity, consciousness, and historical awareness of people in specific areas, as well as determining our position within the nation. This occurs in a context where localism alone lacks the power to establish a position within national history. In other words, understanding the creation of local historical narratives helps one grasp the societal context, worldview, and life perspectives of contemporary people in various dimensions, and it emphasizes history as a way of thinking to explain the dynamics of society.