An ancient city may be hiding beneath the modern streets of Nakhon Ratchasima in northeastern Thailand, according to new research led by Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee from Chulalongkorn University.
Using aerial photographs from 1954, Dr. Santi’s team has identified what appears to be a large, four-sided earthen embankment, suggesting the presence of a long-lost settlement that predates the city’s known history.
“This embankment may have surrounded an earlier city, far older than what we previously believed,” said Dr. Santi, as cited by Archaeology News.
Twice the Size of the Known City
The embankment measures around 3.4 square kilometers — making it twice the size of today’s old city center. If confirmed, it would be the largest known settlement of its kind in the region.
The structure runs beneath the historic heart of Nakhon Ratchasima, specifically just north, west, and east of the Takhong Canal, which dates back to the Ayutthaya period (1656–1688 CE) under King Narai the Great.
Researchers believe this earlier city predates both the canal and the city that grew up around it.
One particularly interesting clue lies in the city’s layout: the embankment’s southern edge aligns almost exactly with Chompol Road, a major street that stretches from Chumphon Gate to Phon Lan Gate. Dr. Santi suggests the road may have been built directly on top of the ancient embankment, reusing it as the main east-west route through the old city.
More Than Just Walls
Beyond its size, the embankment appears to have played a role in managing water flow in the region.
Dr. Santi’s team believes the structure may have directed floodwaters from the Old Lam Takhong River toward other ancient communities in Buriram and Sakon Nakhon provinces. This redirection of water helped carve out lowland areas and may have even created swamps and ponds — including the modern-day Assadang Reservoir.
Such advanced water control suggests a well-organized and possibly powerful society, capable of shaping the landscape to support its needs.
Still a Theory — For Now
While the findings are exciting, Dr. Santi cautions that the conclusions are based on remote sensing data, such as aerial images and geographic features. No excavation has yet taken place, and further archaeological work is needed to confirm the existence of the ancient city.
“If confirmed through digging and surveys, this would be a major discovery,” said Dr. Santi. “It could change what we know about the history of this region.”
If proven, the lost city beneath Nakhon Ratchasima could become a key piece of Thailand’s ancient past, reshaping the historical timeline of one of the country’s most culturally important regions.
