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Published on October 30, 2007

The site is next to the Pongpajjamit Fort, which has been registered as a national historical site since 1949.

"That registration did not cover areas surrounding the fort," said Tharapong Srisuchart, heads of the Fine Arts Department's Office of Archaeology.

He inspected the site yesterday along with Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin and Culture Ministry permanent secretary Vira Rojpojchanarat.

Excavation for the new district office building uncovered 98 ancient logs, prompting the Khlong San District Office to suspend construction work and alert the Fine Arts Department.

"We believe these logs were part of the foundations for the fort," Tharapong said. "We now plan to conduct an excavation here to study the foundation technique used in the old days. We had no knowledge of this part before."

Vira said the site could be developed into a museum about ancient engineering and ancient forts along the Chao Phya River.

"The museum could be located underground, with the Khlong San District Office above," he said.

However, Vira emphasised that the design of the new district office building had to blend in with the Pongpajjamit Fort.

Apirak said the Khlong San District Office would work with the Fine Arts Department on how to construct the building.

The Nation