Cracked stupa reveals hidden trove of ancient Buddha statues
Workers excavating beneath a cracked stupa at a temple in eastern Thailand's Chachoengsao province discovered dozens of historic Buddha statues hidden in underground chambers, with experts estimating the artifacts date back to the early Rat
CHACHOENGSAO — On May 24, 2026, workers excavating beneath a damaged ancient stupa at a temple in eastern Thailand discovered dozens of historic Buddha statues hidden inside four underground chambers, with monks estimating the artifacts to be more than 100 years old.
The discovery was made at Wat Laem Tai in Na Mueang subdistrict of Chachoengsao province as construction workers prepared to relocate and restore the old stupa after cracks and structural tilting raised safety concerns.
Excavation work entered its second day on Saturday after workers uncovered several Rattanakosin-era Buddha statues made from brass and silver during the first day of digging. Additional small Buddha statues made from wood, brass and silver-coated metal were also found on Saturday and were later moved for safekeeping inside the residence of a former abbot at the temple.
Phra Khru Thammathon Chamlong Rojanathammo, abbot of Wat Laem Tai, said the stupa was believed to date back to the reigns of King Rama III or King Rama IV, making it more than a century old. He said it remained unclear whether the stupa existed before the temple was established or whether the temple had later been built around it. The temple itself was officially founded in 1933.
The abbot said elderly residents in the community recalled seeing the stupa since childhood. He added that Phra Thammapariyatmuni, an 88-year-old Buddhist scholar and former abbot of Wat Pitulatirangsan, had inspected the artifacts and believed them to belong to the early Rattanakosin period based on their artistic style and materials.
Temple officials said the stupa had initially been scheduled for relocation using structural lifting methods, but excavation became necessary after workers discovered that the ancient foundation extended deep underground. During the digging, workers found four small chamber-like cavities beneath the base containing large numbers of hidden Buddha statues.
The temple said the artifacts would later be cleaned, preserved and displayed in the temple museum for worship and historical study. The abbot also said local residents had already approached the temple seeking to rent or purchase some of the statues after news of the discovery spread, but insisted the artifacts would remain temple property and would not be made available for commercial purposes.
Some residents visiting the site on Saturday said they believed the discovery was auspicious, with some attempting to interpret lucky numbers from the uncovered artifacts ahead of Thailand's next lottery draw.
