A centuries-old cannon believed to hail from the beginning of the current Rattanakosin dynasty, was discovered in the heart of Bangkok’s historic district over the weekend.
A call came in to Chana Songkhram Police at about 4pm on Saturday saying that the cannon had been unearthed during the digging of a drainage system in Sanam Luang, the public square in front of the famed Grand Palace.
The cannon is 3.04 meters long with a 40-centimeter muzzle radius and discovered under about 1.5 meters of earth, according to Workpoint.
This morning, Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat confirmed that the cannon bears a strong resemblance to those used during the reign of King Rama I, who ruled in the 1700s.
Cannons of this variety were used in historical wars like the Burmese–Siamese War, which took place in 1785. It’s believed that the the cannon was stored underground near the “Front Palace,” a royal residence that was demolished in late 1800s.
The cannon has since been transported for safekeeping at the Bangkok National Museum.
This is not the first time a cannon has been discovered in this area — three similar ones were dug up just three years ago.
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