Guidelines for Conserving Buddhist Archaeological Sites of the Ecclesiastical Administrative Officers in Suphan Buri Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to study the history and importance; 2) to study the current condition of conservation; and 3) to propose the guidelines for the conservation of the Buddhist archaeological sites of the Ecclesiastical Administrative Officers in Suphan Buri Province. It was a qualitative research by conducting documentary research and in-depth interviews with 15 key informants who were specifically selected from those whose characteristics were consistent with the main point of the research. Content analysis was used. The results of the research were found that 1) the Buddhist archaeological sites were the places or buildings where traces of human activities in the past have been found that were valuable in Buddhism. Dictionary, Royal Institute Edition states that archaeological sites refer to things that cannot be moved, such as Buddha images, pagodas, churches, Vihara, and places related to Buddhism which were over 100 years old. The Buddhist archaeological sites were valuable cultural heritage in Buddhism. It was a local identity that showed history, beliefs, religion, traditions and the prosperity of any community including the nation; 2) in terms of the current condition of conservation of the Buddhist archaeological sites in Suphan Buri Province, the Ecclesiastical Administrative Officers should focus on cultivating the awareness of the local community to know how to preserve the Buddhist archaeological sites, not excavate important historical evidence to cause damage. The temples with the Buddhist archaeological sites should take care not to deteriorate, not build other buildings in the area of the Buddhist archaeological sites which may result in damage to archaeological sites; and 3) the Ecclesiastical Administrative Officers in Suphan Buri province should play a role in enhancing the potential of conserving the Buddhist archaeological sites concretely.  The Ecclesiastical Administrative Officers in Suphan Buri province should emphasize on cultivating the conscience of the local community to know how to preserve the Buddhist archaeological sites. The Ecclesiastical Administrative Officers in Suphan Buri province should directly coordinate with government agencies responsible for the Buddhist archaeological sites which played a role in forming a master plan for the preservation of the Buddhist archaeological sites.