Prasat Ban Samrong
| Native Name | ปราสาทบ้านสำโรง, ប្រាសាទបានសំរោង |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Prasat Samrong |
| BA# | T31163 |
| CISARK# | 6638 |
| Size | Small |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Type | Dharmasala ?, Temple |
| Location | |
| Commune | Pathai Rin |
| District | Lam Plai Mat |
| Province | Buriram |
| Country | Thailand |
| Coordinates | 14.93308, 102.75385 |
| History | |
| Founded | 12-13th Century |
| Builder | Jayavarman VII ? |
| Art Style | Bayon |
| Material | Laterite, Sandstone |
Prasat Ban Samrong (ปราสาทบ้านสำโรง - Pronounced: Pra-saht Baan Samrong)
Laterite and sandstone ruin situated some 600m southeast of the moated settlement Ban Samrong Khao. The TFAD has designated the sanctuary as a dharmasala and while there is some tempting evidence, the ruins don't conform to the 'standard' layout as typified by the four nearby (and confirmed), dharmasalas; Prasat Huai Khaen to the north and Prasat Nong Ta Pleng, Prasat Nong Plong and Prasat Nong Kong to the south-southeast. All sites are located at roughly equidistant points along the probable route of the ancient route connecting Angkor with Phimai, (Vimayapura), although Samrong could fit into the long, 20km or so, gap between Huay Khaen and Ta Pleng.
Furthermore, Prasat Ban Samrong does lack any obvious moat or associated baray - neither of which are standard dharmasala features - and the ruins do present a rectangular-shaped structure. Conversely, there are more sandstone vestiges than would be expected at a provincial fire temple and the main rectangular hall appears to have been subdivided into chambers. The standard layout is a single hall with windows on the south side.
No decorative elements are in situ today and we're uncertain if any artefacts originating from the site are housed elsewhere so we're not certain a convenient Bayon dating is possible. (1) In our opinion, the two most likely possibilities are; that sandstone blocks were recycled from another, earlier temple in the vicinity and the division into chanbers is a mere architectural anomaly or; that the sanctuary represents an earlier dharmasala design. (Bearing in mind that the famous Angkor road existed from at least the 11th century and monarchs prior to Jayavarman VII certainly constructed some form of dharmasalas of their own.)
As far as we know little or no excavation has taken place at the site for now and hopefully clarity and confirmation may be forthcoming in the future.
(1) TFAD notice boards confidently assign the site to the late 12th century and confirm it as a fire temple so possibly they have unearthed Bayon period artefacts at the site that we are unaware of.
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