Wat Phan Lao
Wat Phan Lao (Thai: วัดพันเลา) is a ruined 16th century temple in the Wiang Kum Kam archaeological area near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
Name
No information exists about the temple in historical records,[1] so the name used is that which is generally used by and may have been preserved by local people.[1]
Location
In modern terms, the location is within the Hnong Phuoung Sub District, Saraphee District, Chiang Mai.[1]
Historically, the location was outside of the walls of the former city of Wiang Kum Kam and to the north of the former course of the Ping River,[1] making it something of a physical outlier within the archaeological group.
Excavations
The temple was excavated from 2002 to 2003,[1] revealing a group of large structures with a complex layout that is thought to have derived from additions to the site over time.[1] The structures were only 50cm beneath the surface as prior to excavation the site had been compromised by bulldozers, road building and encroachment by housing.[1] Artifacts uncovered a gilt lacquer bronze Buddha image of 27.2cm height that is considered to be 16th century Chiang Saen art, spiral and floral stucco motifs, a tuo ngao (northern Thai dialect) stair balustrade, fragments of roof tiles and layers of the receding circular moldings of a chedi.[1] The evidence suggests that the extensive foundations were religious buildings.[1]
The foundations are divided into two groups, the east-west axis group and the northeast-southwest axis group.[1]
Importance
It is assumed that Wat Phan Lao was an important temple in use during the 16th century.[1]
