The Northeast

    The Northeast or Isan is divided into 19 provinces the area and population of which account for the one-third of the whole country. Its topography is different from that of the other regions, most of the land begin high plains called the Khorat Plateau , which is at an average of 120-180 m. above sea level.

    It was formed as a result of the elevation and subsidence of the earth's crust , which occurred in a west-northeast direction 150-230 million years ago. This land formation makes the regions by many mountain ranges. The Phetchabun and Dong Phya Yen ranges to the west separate it from the central and northern regions. The Phanom Dongrak mountains to the sounth and partly to the east serve as the border between it and the central region at the low plains of Cambodia. The Mekong flowing on the north and east , separates it from Laos and Cambodia

    Seen from the air , the Northeast looks like a large pan with a raised edge on almost all sides except the east. The Phu Phan mountain , in the middle area rising in a southeast-northwest direction,divided it into two parts : the Sakon Nakhon Basin in the north and Khorat Basin the south.

    As the Northeast is mainly sandstone with layers of salt deposits from ancient seas ,  the soil is mostly sandy and salty and thus highly unfavourable for cultivation. Although it has fertile area which are fed by the two main rivers , the Mun and the Chi and their numberous tributaries ,and the fertile land by the Mekong these are relatively small compared to the rest of the land which is  arid. Hence , the image of the "barren Northeast"

    It's amazing that in such a land of notorious dryness,cultural heritage abounds. Art works are in the form of artifacts and buildings , all the outcome of faith , and reflect the actual social conditions of the northeasr's inhabitants in the past. These art works have been accumulated over the ages,comstituting diverse civilizations. Many of the practices and traditions have been passed down for many generations. Such is the unique essence and charm of the Northeast.

    Until recently the know treasures of the Northeast belonged to the Dvaravati period in the form of stone boundary markers (sema) and Khmer sanctuaries (prasat) of the Lop Buri period. But the active archaeological undertaking continued during the last 20 years have revealed the Northeast's spirit in another dinension going way back in time.

    Hundreds of archaeological sites have been excavated and preserved for study ; tons of cubic metres of the Northeastern soil has been removed layer by layer ; thousands of ancient objects have been testd by means of  archaeological techniques,unveiling the ancient pre-Dvaravati and pre-Khmer periods.