A high-tech LiDAR survey has identified a massive temple complex from the Pyu Era hidden beneath the canopy of the Phetchabun Mountains. The site is characterized by its octagonal brick stupas and a series of interconnected ritual basins, marking it as one of the most significant finds for Pyu archaeology in recent decades. The scale of the complex suggests it was a major center for pilgrimage and learning along ancient trade routes.
Ground surveys following the aerial mapping have uncovered silver-etched brickwork and rare terracotta tablets inscribed with early Buddhist sutras in the Pyu script. The temple's unique water-based layout, which appears to have utilized mountain springs for ritual purification, distinguishes it from the better-known sites of Sri Ksetra or Beikthano. Conservationists are now advocating for the area to be declared a protected heritage zone.