A high-resolution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey conducted in central Thailand has revealed a sprawling religious complex hidden beneath dense forest canopy in Lopburi. The laser scans identified the distinct footprints of three large stupa foundations and an extensive moat system belonging to the Mon-Dvaravati culture, dating back to the 6th or 7th century CE.
The discovery suggests that the Dvaravati civilization was far more urbanized and architecturally sophisticated in this region than historical records indicated. Local archaeologists have since confirmed the findings on the ground, uncovering decorated stucco fragments and terracotta votive tablets that depict early Buddhist iconography. This new site is expected to rewrite the map of early Southeast Asian trade and religious expansion.