Conservationists working at a remote 14th-century temple in northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai province have discovered a subterranean cache of silver Buddha statues during structural reinforcement work. The statues, which range in size from ten to thirty centimeters, were found encased in ceremonial ceramic jars beneath the primary prayer hall.
The artifacts are attributed to the Lanna Kingdom and exhibit unique stylistic traits, such as elongated earlobes and intricate flame-shaped halos. Historians believe the cache was hidden to protect the sacred items from regional conflicts in the 16th century. The local government has announced plans to establish a museum at the site to display the collection.