Chedi Wat Kaew

The date of creation was uncertain. However the plan of this monument resembles the Central Javanese pattern which was built around the 8th - 11th century AD. Furthermore some elements such as pilasters and miniature stupas at the base of the chedi are reminiscent of a contemporary Cham tower.

Chedi Wat Kaew might be greatly repaired in the Ayutthaya period by which the Ayutthaya-styled red sandstone Buddha image replaced the old statue, probably a statue of Mahayana Bodhisattava.

Chedi Wat Kaew was listed and declared an ancient monument in the Government Gazette, no. 53 on 27 September 1936.

The Fine Arts Department began an excavation and conservation on this ancient monument in 1976. The project started on the eastern side of the chedi. Two years later, in 1978 the rest of the monument were excavated until completed. The latter excavation discovered more ruins nearby, for example a brick wall located northwest from the chedi and a ruins of shrine hall (vihara or wihan) on the western side.

Chedi Wat Kaew is a prasat-type chedi. In all possibility, the missing superstructure should be a multiple-tiered roof topped with a round stupa reminiscent a Central Javanese candi and the Phra Borommathat Chaiya but Chedi Wat Kaew is larger. The chedi was built with bricks and mortar.

Now ruined, the remaining elements are the large square base and the greek-cross plan body. The chedi faces to the east. It stands on the square base with projections and middle deep porches on all four sides. The eastern porch is the entry way to the cella whereas the other three porches once housed statues. This type of structure can be compared with numerous candi of the Central Java. Furthermore, the exterior of the chedi was decorated with pilasters.

Chedi Wat Kaew is the largest surviving chedi of the Srivijaya period

Central Javanese monuments (candi), for example Candi Pawon, Candi Mendut, Candi Kalasan, and Candi Sewu

ศิลปากร, กรม. ประวัติพระบรมธาตุไชยาราชวรวิหาร จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี และบทความเรื่องอาณาจักรศรีวิชัย. กรุงเทพฯ: กรมศิลปากร, 2520.