Wat Chom Chuen

This temple is located on the bank of the Yom River and is about 400 meters to the east of Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That. The important Sukhothai period buildings that can be seen in this temple include the main chedi of Sri Lankan style, a vihara building, and a mandapa. These were built from blocks of laterite. Inside the main chedi, there is a remnant of a square building. This has led Professor Jean Boisselier to suggest that the main chedi had been transformed from an earlier Khmer shrine.

Archaeological excavations conducted here have also yielded much evidence indicating that Wat Chom Chuen was initially constructed in the pre-Sukhothai period. Fifteen human skeletons excavated here at a depth of about 7 - 8 meters suggest that the area around this temple was firstly occupied during the 3rd - 4th century CE. The human habitation of this area was continued up to at least the 6th - 7th century CE. Then, around the 11th century CE, two groups of large brick buildings appeared in this area. Finally, a Sukhothai period temple was developed here.

Ayutthaya Historical Research