By Sunthorn Pongpao
Construction of a Tesco-Lotus Express retail outlet could be prohibited on a site where the remains of an ancient wall are being excavated, said Anek Sihamart, director of the Fine Arts Department office in Ayutthaya province. Mr Anek said the excavation will continue for three days. A report on the ancient wall found underground will then be submitted to a committee working on the preservation and development of the ancient city of Ayutthaya.
The panel will meet on Aug 20 to decide whether to allow construction of the Tesco-Lotus Express store to go ahead.
Tesco Lotus bought the 400-square-wa plot of land, the former site of an old cinema in Talad Hua Ror market in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, to build its Express outlet, which is a smaller-format retail store.
During construction, part of a brick wall was discovered, which is about 1.5 metres wide and 20 metres long. Pieces of porcelain and ceramics, including dolls, were also found.
Mr Anek said records from the Ayutthaya period show that Talad Hua Ror was on the site of an ancient fort called Mahachai and a section of the cinema was where an ancient gate once stood.
The site was once a key point during a battle with Burmese troops who laid siege to the old capital.
Methadol Wichakkana, director of the Ayutthaya Historic Park Office, said the construction of the Tesco-Lotus Express branch has been suspended until the committee makes a decision.
He said many buildings have been erected in the area and it is believed other parts of the ancient wall are buried beneath them.
These buildings cannot be ordered dismantled because they were constructed before the law on ancient sites was in place, he said.
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