A remarkable seven-tiered stupa spire, believed to be over 1,000 years old, was uncovered on Monday at the dual-track railway construction site in Mueang district, Phayao province. The discovery occurred in a rice field near the Ban Chedi Ngam community, which was expropriated for the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong railway project. Locals have long referred to the site as “Wat That Nok Saeo,” thought to be an ancient temple, evidenced by old bricks and lotus-shaped pillars found in the area.
Standing intact at two metres tall with a one-metre-wide base, the stupa spire was transported using a crane to Wat Chedi Ngam in Mueang district by the village headman, residents, and monks. The artefact will undergo further examination by the Fine Arts Department in the coming week. Following the discovery, villagers took measures to safeguard the site by cordoning it off, preventing access to treasure hunters and illegal excavators.
This significant find has inspired locals to collect historical evidence, aiming to preserve the ancient temple as an archaeological site. They also envision transforming it into a future tourist attraction that could bring cultural and historical value to the Ban Chedi Ngam community.
