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Amphoe Chum Phae
Non Mueang Ancient Town
Non Mueang Ancient Town The ancient town is located at Ban
Na Pho, 80 kilometres from downtown Khon Kaen. Legends say the hill
known as Non Mueange was the location of an ancient town. Acquiring
a 216 rai area, the oval hill has double moats. Archaeologists have
found sandstone Sema boundary markers in Dvaravati style in the
town and nearby. Potsherds were scattered around. Some were painted
in red, and some decorated with incising and cord-marked patterns.
In the soil layer of the Dvaravati period (7-11th century), none
of the funeral-related artifacts was found. So, archaeologists presumed
that the funeral of this town changed after the arrival of Buddhism.
In deeper soil, more interesting historical evidence was found.
Archaeologists found that there used to be a human settlement here
since the late pre historic period. They discovered human skeletons
dating back 2,500 years ago. Funeral tools and utensils were buried
together with the bodies. The utensils found included pottery decorated
with painted , incising and cord-marked pattern, bronze and animal-bone
bangles, shells, colorful beads, as well as iron tools such as hoe,
sickle, and animals’ bones; namely deer, barking deer, and
different fishes. These artifacts prove that people in this community
lived on agriculture until the Lop Buri period (11-12th century).
How to get there: Motorists can get there via Highway 12,
Khon Kaen-Chum Phae Road, then make a left turn at Chum Phae Post
Office, continuing for another 5 kilometres.
Tham Pha Phuang Forest Park
Tham Pha Phuang Forest Park is in Ban Dong Lan, Tambon Pha
Nok Khao, 123 kilometres from Khon Kaen on the Khon Kaen-Chum Phae
road by Highway No. 12 and 201. A 4-kilometre road on the right
then takes you to the park. Tham Pha Phuang is a huge limestone
cave. Inside is a large chimney-shaped rock and lovely stalagmites
and stalactites.
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