| AYUTTHAYA HISTORIC CITY CONSERVATION INFORMATION CENTER (AHCCIC) |
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - September 2019 |
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| The Historic City of Ayutthaya has an additional incentive since the official opening of the Ayutthaya Historic City Conservation Information Center (AHCCIC) on 24 September 2019. The information center is situated adjacent the Ayutthaya Historical Park Office, in the middle of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, north of the parking behind the Ayutthaya National Art Museum (the old Provincial Hall). The exhibition starts with the structure of the 3rd Regional Office of Fine Arts, which is one of the 12 Regional Offices of the Fine Arts Department and falls under the authority of the Ministry of Culture. The 3rd Regional Office supervises the historical sites in the provinces of Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Sara Buri, and Nakhon Nayok. It is divided into sections containing an Administrative Section, an Archaeological Section, a Monument Conservation Section, the Ayutthaya Historical Park Organisation, the Chao Sam Phraya Museum, the Chan Kasem National Museum, and the In Buri National Museum. The 3rd Regional Office of Fine Arts is responsible for 248 sites on the city island, 235 sites extern the city island within the City District and 61 sites in other districts of Ayutthaya Province, registered as non-registered locations (figures proviso). An information board mentions that the Historic City of Ayutthaya is divided in 7 areas or zones being: the registered World Heritage site called Ayutthaya Historical Park, the unregistered zone being the City Island minus the Ayutthaya Historical Park, the eastern external zone (including the old town of Ayodhya), the southern external zone (from Bang Kraja until Khlong Takhian), the western external zone (from Khlong Takhian to the Chao Phraya River), the northern external zone (from the Chao Phraya River until the Pa Sak River), all located within the City District, and at last, other historic locations in Ayutthaya Province. The exhibition at the AHCCIC gives us an idea on the operation of the 3rd Regional Office of Fine Arts and its gigantic task of archaeological excavation, data collection, restoration, conservation, and site maintenance, in and around Ayutthaya. The exhibition presents the history of archaeological excavation and conservation of monuments in Ayutthaya over the years, since the early fifties of the last century until today. Information on excavation and conservation is given regarding important temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Phukhao Thong, Wat Chai Watthanaram, Wat Kudi Dao, Wat Lokaya Sutha, Wat Maha That, Wat Thammikarat, Wat Kraji, Wat Racha Burana, Wat Tawet, and Wat Choeng Tha. The Information Center is relevant for all visitors to the Ayutthaya Historical Park, who want to take a look behind the scenes of the work at a world heritage site. It is situated in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 2.18" N, 100° 33' 27.78" E. |
| (The Ayutthaya Historic City Conservation Information Center) |
| (View of the exhibition) |
| (View of the exhibition) |
| (View of the exhibition) |
