Ban Prasat Archaeological Site

Ban Prasat Archaeological Site, in Than Prasat subdistrict of Non Sung district, Korat, preserves three excavation pits where archaeologists have left human skeletons and pottery in place where they were unearthed — evidence of a settlement occupied continuously from around 3,000 years ago through the Dvaravati and ancient Khmer periods. Entry is free; the site and museum are open Wednesday–Sunday 08:30–16:30, closed Monday, Tuesday, and public holidays.

The site came to light almost by accident. In 1983, the Fine Arts Department launched a formal excavation after looted artefacts from the area turned up for sale, and the resulting dig uncovered roughly 59 prehistoric skeletons along with red-slipped and rope-impressed pottery, mouth-harp-shaped vessels, shell bracelets, beads, and bronze tools and bangles. The settlement itself was ringed by a moat and earth embankment, with the Prasat Stream running along its north side — a layout suggesting a community that farmed rice, raised animals, and worked limited metalwork. Burials sit at depths from 1.5 to 5.5 metres: the deepest layer runs to roughly 3,000 years old, a middle layer to about 2,500 years, and the shallowest layer holds Ban Chiang-style black pottery from around 1,000 years ago — three occupation periods stacked in the same ground.

Three of the excavation pits are roofed and open to walk through in the village itself, each showing skeletons and grave goods largely as they were found rather than removed to a case. The Ban Prasat Museum near the village entrance, established in 1996, fills in the context on two floors — the upper floor covers the site’s history and finds, the lower floor recreates an excavation pit in miniature for visitors who won’t make it to all three outdoor sites. The village also runs a homestay program, so a visit can extend into an overnight stay with home-cooked meals rather than a single afternoon stop.

Insider Tip: Start at the museum before the outdoor pits — the burial-depth timeline and artefact context make the in-situ skeletons much easier to read once you’re standing over them.

Watch out: The site is closed Monday and Tuesday, and public transport into Non Sung’s smaller villages is limited — driving yourself or hiring a car from Korat town is the practical way in.

Combine the trip with two more of Korat’s history stops: Nakhon Ratchasima City Museum in town, or the much larger Khmer ruins at Phimai Historical Park elsewhere in the province.