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Bangkok Post
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Ancient pottery, Buddha head found buried at weir in Thailand

The Buddha head is believed to be several hundred years old, according to the finders

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Local residents perform a traditional bai sri ceremony on Tuesday for the head of a Buddha statue uncovered during repairs to Korn community weir in Chiang Rai province. Photo: Post Publishing
Bangkok Post

Ancient pottery and the large head of a Buddha statue have been found buried near a community weir in Muang district of Thailand’s northern province.

The antiquities were uncovered on March 3 by municipal workers digging with a backhoe during repairs to Korn weir.

The people of nearby Ban Pa Tueng in tambon Pa Or Donchai on Tuesday held a bai sri ceremony to bless and welcome the Buddha head.

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Sompet Supamanee, 64, former chairman of the weir construction committee, said Pa Or Donchai tambon municipality recently sent workers to repair the weir. During the work a backhoe uncovered red bricks in lumps of earth dug from the area, Thai media reported.

Villagers helped workers remove the earth, revealing the large head of a Buddha statue. Further excavations uncovered a large quantity of old pottery. Although many of the items were broken, some were still in good condition to the delight of the local people. 

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The tambon municipality advised the department of  fine arts and other agencies of the find, so they could send experts to examine it.

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