International Archaeology Day(IAD2019) at PNG Excavation
International Archaeology Day(IAD2019) event was held at PNG Excavation site in Kawhmu by SST Tourism, long-term collaborating organization for International Archaeology Day, Archaeological Institute of America, in cooperation with local community for development.
We, SST Tourism Co.,Ltd. will perform the event title is ” Archaeological Values of Apsidal Building” at Peinnegone Village in Kawhmu Township of Yangon Region, Myanmar. The event will be held on 10 October 2019 ( Thursday). Many stake holders will participate in the event such as Archaeological Department of Yangon University, The teachers from University, Regional officer of Kawhmu Township and Local Community. We encourage and giving knowledge to the local community to conserve the Ancient Archaeological site.
Agenda:
Event Date: 2019.10.10
Event Title: “Archaeological Values of Apsidal Building”
Time: 10 am to 04:00 pm
10:00 am- 10:30 am, Registration
10:30 am to 12:00 noon, Presentation of “Archaeological Values of Apsidal Building” By Mr. San Win ( Adviser of Myanmar Historical Commission, Ex: Assistant Director of Historical Department )
12:00 to 01:00 pm, Lunch Break
01:00 pm to 03:30 pm, Group Discussion
03:30 pm to 04:00 pm, Closing remark
PNG Excavation
Kawhmu PNG Excavation Report Conclusion
Excavation at Peinne Gon (PNG), Lower Myanmar, was an urgent rescue excavation
lasting only 38 days. The budget was small, from donations and using volunteer labours. The excavation nonetheless resulted in significant information including two brick structures constructed in relation to each other: a monastery or vihara on the north and an apsidal building or stupa hall (chaitya graha) together with a base of small stupa (chaitya) on the south.
Many pottery shards were collected with a number of eight burial urns contained bones ashes. Eight colourful glass beads were also found.
There was no similar structure found in Lower Myanmar previously. The finger-marked bricks indication showed the site was so early and the building type itself claimed to be the early phase of Hinayana Buddhism in India. Because we found no icons of human or some other figures during excavation, one excavator, Dr. Pyiey Phyo Kyaw suggested that this structure probably belonged to aniconic period of early Hinayana Buddhist traditions. This tradition lasted in India from the 2nd century BC to 5th century AD. However, the absence of images may also be due to the duration and method of carrying out the work. Further studies may prove the date and context of the site while conservation and preservation work is needed urgently. At present, the site was transferred to the landowner, the presiding monk of Sein Phaya Kyaung monastery, and the Department of Archaeology, Yangon branch on 27.7.2016.
The Peinne Gon (PNG) site was clearly a brick building, the only surviving example of its kind in lower Myanmar. It is situated in the southern portion of Myanmar in the delta area of Ayeyawddy and Sittaung rivers opening to the Indian (Andaman) Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is presumed to have been built as early as the second century BCE to the Second century CE based on the abundant finds of figure marked-bricks. In plan, it has apsidal ends, a small stupa of ten feet diameters in the apse with a wide space from the chaitya graha (Stupa hall). It can be compared to the rock-cut architecture of Asoka Indian, such as Bhaja, Kondane, Pitalkhora, Ajanta (No-10), Bedsa, Ajanta (No-9), Nasik and Karli, all the examples were excavated just pervious to the Christian era, the first four in the second century and the remainder in the first century (Brown, 1959,p-21, plates xxxx1).
