Stone hints at glorious past
The Fine Arts Department has discovered an ancient stone inscription in Roi Et province that hints at the past glory of an area that is today known for its barrenness.
The ancient inscription was found by officials working on an excavation site in the northeastern province's Nong Hee sub-district, the department's permanent secretary, Khunying Tipavadee Meksawan, announced yesterday. "The officials found the inscription in three pieces, but when assembled they form a stone column about 50 centimetres high, 45 centimetres wide and 15 centimetres thick," Tipavadee said. She said the inscription was discovered near a pond that is believed to have been used in sacred rituals because the base for the Hindu phallic symbol of creative power was also found there. Kongkaew Weeraprachak, a linguist at the National Library, said the inscription was in the Pallawa language and talked about King Chitsen, a great ruler from an ancient Khmer kingdom. "This has a great significance because such a great king would not have expanded his kingdom to a barren land," the expert in ancient languages said. Roi Et is now a part of a region called Thung Kula Ronghai, known for its barrenness and lack of water.
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