Udon Thani

    This major Northeastern province is one of the country's most famous historical and archaeological sites.

    Ban Chiang

    This place is known to the world for its prehistoric agricultural community with advanced technology in making bronze artifacts. It is located in Nong Han district, 57 km. from the province capital. There must be few archaeologists who have never heard of Ban Chaing for its past metallurgical advancement. It has raised a big issue in the field of metallurgy which necessitated repeated testing.

    Besides bronze artifacts which are among the world's oldest, the site also contains attractive pttery with red designs on a powder beige background. These are highly prized by art collectors, and this has caused this archaeological site to suffer from rapid destruction. Fortunately, an area of  Phosi Nai Temple has remain intact for archaeological excavation abd study and is now preserved as an open-air museum.

    Many of the finds from Ban Chiang are on display at thr Ban Chiang National Museum, on of Thailand's most beautiful and resourceful museum.

    Phu Phra Bat Historical Park

    This is the Fine Srts Department's latest historical  park which will cover more than  half of the area of Phu Phra Bat, a mountain in the Phu Phan range in Tambon Muang Phan, Ban Phu district 67 km. from the provincial capital.

    The main attractions here are rocks shelters of different shapes and size among trees and streams and traces of prehistoric man. Prehistoric paintings on the rocks of Tham Wua and Tham Khon  tell of ancient rites and beliefs while the meaning of the  geometric forms are still unknown.  These appear in many of rock shelters. Among the type0s of historic evidence are rock shelters adapted for accommondation and the performance of religious rites, stone boundary   markers, Dvaravati period Buddha images , and Lop Buri period Bodhisattva sculpture.   

    The religious importance of this place continued until the Rattanakosin and Lan Xang periods, with  the Bua Bok Buddha footprint being the most highly-revered monument. The locals' feelings for the place also gave rise to the naming of some of the places in the park, such as Usa's Tower ( Ho Namg Usa ) from the legendary love story "Usa Baros" There is a plan to make a part of this historical park a dhamma park for the benefit of Buddhists.