3
Figure 1: Perspective of the moats enclosing the SCAS
(left)
and the section perspective
(right)
Source: Adapted from Openbase, 2008
(left)
and drawn by I. Sarttatat on August 28, 2009
(right)
The cultural heritage significance of SCAS has to be preserved and its stories re-told to the present and
future generations; tourism is a tool to highlight this significance and promote its conservation at both the local
and national levels. The cultural heritage significance of SCAS is that it was discovered accidentally during
the government’s campaign to eradicate an agricultural pest. Later, the Regional Office of Fine Arts in Lop Buri
and Silpakorn University collaborated in a scientific excavation of the site from which they recovered
many important and ancient relics, such as grinding stone, Buddha image red stone, crouching deer, and south
Indian inscription (Maleipan,1973;Bhumadhorn, 1979).These archaeological evidences indicate the chronological
age of the ancient city. The existence of the city can be divided in four periods, namely prehistoric and proto-
historic period (2000 B.C. to ca.A.D.500);Dvaravati period (600-700 A.D.) (Maleipan,1973; Bhumadhorn, 1979;
Lertrit,2003); Deserted or unoccupied period (10th- 19
th
A.D.) (Bhumadhorn,1979);and present period
(1900s A.D.) (FAD.4,2006).It is believed that the strategic location of this ancient city made it an important trade
exchange route between the central and northeastern regions of Thailand (Bhumadhorn, 1994; Lertrit, 2003).
The artifacts collected from the site indicate that the early settlers of the ancient city traded with Indian merchants.
Prior to World War II, Marshal Pibunsongkram ordered the establishment of a military town in Lop Buri province
and the transfer of the capital of Thailand from Bangkok to Petchaboon province. During this period, non-Thai
residents (i.e. Chinese) in Lop Buri province were ordered to settle east at and around the vicinity of the
archeological site, which during that time was still unknown to exist (Pibunsongkram, 1997). A large portion of
the forest that had overgrown and covered the ancient city was cleared for settlement and agriculture
(Sujchaya,1999).The new settlers while farming the land discovered some of the archeological remains of the
ancient city now called Sap Cham Pa. Some 20 years later, the Royal Forest Department promulgated the
National Forest Act of 1964. Consequently, Chai Badan district, where the archeological site is located, was
declared a protected zone under the Chai Badan National Forest Act of 1969. As this archaeological site was
within the Chai Badan Forest, it is basically a protected site (Unyuang, 2000). Despite the enactment of the
above-mentioned laws, the local farmers and residents have continued farming even expanding their farms and
10 m
16 m
16 m
20 m
704 m
834 m
