History under water | Bangkok Post: learning

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There is no rest for cultural authorities trying to save Thailand's historical sites from the floods.

Ancient artefacts in Phimai Historical Park have been submerged by the flooding. SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUl

History under water

With many of Thailand’s best known historical sites located in low-lying areas, the country’s cultural authorities are always busy during and after the flood season.

This year, with the worst flooding in 30 years, their job is especially difficult. They are gearing up to restore valuable outdoor artefacts and ancient monuments damaged by the floods and are moving to protect those still under threat.

Fine Arts Department director-general Somsuda Leyavanija said many historical sites had been under water for quite a while and others still faced being flooded.

''Phimai Historical Park and the National Museum in Nakhon Ratchasima are the worst affected,'' she said. ''The stone ruins and buildings have been inundated for more than seven days.''

Although the authorities had tried to install flood prevention measures, they could not protect antiques and structures exhibited outside the building or those in the historical park.

These include stone lintels and sema (leaf-shaped stone boundary markers) which have been under 20 to 30 centimetres of water for many days.

''Their bases are saturated by the flood water while the upper parts remain wet in the rain,'' Ms Somsuda said.

She said the ministry would start renovation work once the flood receded. This may include putting steel bases underneath the artefacts to keep them above the flood level.

''It will add a slightly unpleasant look to the ancient objects but it must be done for the sake of their stability,'' she said.

Authorities are pumping water from the ground floor of Phimai National Museum, located near the Mun River.
Luckily, the authorities managed to relocate about 3,000 artefacts, some as old as 4,500 years, on display in the museum to the second floor before the floods hit.

Ms Somsuda said the good news was the water level in Nakhon Ratchasima had receded. But historical sites in Ayutthaya remain a serious concern.
 
Adapted from a story by Lamphai Intathep in todays' Bangkok Post.

site – a place where something is located  สถานที่
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
gear up – a to prepare yourself, or to prepare something for an activity or event  เตรียม (บางสิ่งเช่น เครื่องจักร) ให้พร้อมสำหรับ
restore – to bring back to good condition ฟื้นฟูสภาพ
artefacts - objects that are made by a person, such as tools or decorations, especially ones that are of historical interest วัตถุ (ที่เกิดจากฝีมือมนุษย์), โบราณวัตถุ
ancient – very old ที่เก่าแก่ ที่โบราณ
monument – a statue or building that is built to honour a special person or event อนุสาวรีย์ หรืออนุสรณ์สถาน
under threat – at risk; in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
face – to (likely) have to deal with a problem เผชิญ, พบ, เจอ
museum – a building where objects of historical, scientific or artistic interest are kept พิพิธภัณฑ์
ruins – the remains of a building that has been badly damaged or destroyed ซากปรักหักพัง
inundate – to flood; to submerge ท่วม, ทำให้จมลงใต้น้ำ
prevention – preventing something bad from happening การป้องกันภ้ย
measure – an action taken to solve a particular problem มาตรการ
antiques –old and valuable things that are usually looked at but not used โบราณวัตถุ, ของโบราณ
structure – something large such as a building or a bridge that is built from different parts โครงสร้าง
exhibit – to put something interesting in a museum or other public place so that people can go and look at it จัดแสดง
lintel – a piece of stone or wood that supports the wall above a door or window ขื่อประตู,ทับหลัง
boundary – a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something  เส้นแบ่งเขต, เขตแดน
base – the bottom part, edge, or surface of something พื้นฐาน, รากฐาน
saturate – to make something completely wet ทำให้ชุ่มไปด้วยน้ำ
renovation – making something old look new again by repairing and improving it, especially a building การปฏิสังขรณ์, การทำให้มีสภาพดีเหมือนเดิม, การบูรณะ, การซ่อมแซมใหม่
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
for the sake of – for the benefit or good of someone or something เพื่อ
stability – the ability of something to remain balanced and not fall or shake  เสถียรภาพ, ความคงที่, ความมั่นคง
relocate – to move someone or something to another place โยกย้ายประชาชนออกจากบริเวณ
display – to put something in a particular place so that people can see it easily  โชว์, แสดง
concern – a worry ความกังวล

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