Muang Sema เมืองเสมา - Ancient City - Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand 2024

Muang Sema เมืองเสมา Histoeical Park

A sprawling ancient city site housing various temple ruins as well as some well preserved moats and embankments which reveals several distinct construction/occupation periods.

A moated, irregular shaped, core area on the south side of the ancient city, measuring some 600m x 1100 at its widest points, was likely to have been the earliest occupation site and today features several Dvaravati-period brick vestiges.

A presumably, subsequent expansion of the site - also still featuring a largely intact moat and embankments - extended it by over 1 km to the north.

Ceremonial sites and early period important buildings were located in the southern section with possibly the majority of the population to the north. The more rectangular central area with a moat and double embankment indicates a defensive purpose and speculatively may have been added at a later date to house the city garrison or even some kind of palace complex.

The site was clearly one of major importance over a lengthy time frame and indeed there was a branch of the famous 'Angkor Road' from Angkor Wat to Phimai (Vimayapura) leading directly to the city.

The site's importance appears to have faded in the post-13th century era with the nearby, present-day provincial capital, Nakhon Ratchasima taking over importance.

There are numerous temple ruins and vestiges scattered in and around Muang Sema and while the overall site clearly retained its importance during the period of Angkorean administration.

Two significant inscriptions were found at Muang Sema; the Bo Ika stele, (K.400), unearthed at Muang Sema Monument 7 and K.1141 whose provenance is merely listed as Muankg Sema. The latter is dated to 971 and the early years of the reign of Jayavarman V.

The site is not as impressive as the large temples that have undergone extensive restoration like Phimai and a few of the others. Most of the ruins are down to the base with little to see. It’s a nice stop for history lovers and could be incorporated into visits of the nearby ruins and temples while in the area.

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