Restoration works at the Phra Narai Maha Rat Temple in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, led to the discovery of over 100 pieces of ancient Buddha statues around the main statue inside the main sermon hall of the temple.

According to archaeologists who examined the artefacts, they date back to the Dvaravati era (6th to 13th cent. AD), or the ancient Khmer era (802-1431 AD), making the artefacts over 1000 years ago. It is believed that there could be as many as 1,000 more statues of various eras beneath the main statue in the temple. Archaeologists state that possibly people put the statues under the base of the main statue when King Narai built the temple 361 years ago. King Narai, also known as Ramathibodi III  or Ramathibodi Si Sanphet, was the ruler of The Kingdom of Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688 and is considered  arguably the most famous Ayutthayan king, known for the prosperous period of the kingdom during his reign.

(after The Nation)