A joint mission in the Lopburi province has unearthed 1,200-year-old silver-spouted votive jars dating back to the Dvaravati period. These vessels, intricately decorated with aquatic motifs, were found in a ceremonial pit near a localized stupa. Experts believe they were used for ritual water-pouring ceremonies, providing definitive evidence for the pre-Buddhist origins of the modern Songkran water festival.
Chemical analysis of the interior residue revealed traces of jasmine and sandalwood oils, suggesting that the "scented water" tradition has persisted for over a millennium. This discovery highlights the deep-seated cultural continuity of seasonal water-blessing rites in Southeast Asia, predating the formal integration of these practices into the Buddhist calendar.