Sri Ksetra Archaeological Museum
သီရိခေတ္တရာပြတိုက် | |
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | Sri Ksetra, Hmawza, Pyay, Bago Region, Myanmar |
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| Type | Archaeological museum |
| Collection size | Approx. 265 artifacts on display; 5,998 total objects |
Sri Ksetra Archaeological Museum is a museum located within the ancient Pyu city-state of Sri Ksetra, near the modern-day village of Hmawza, approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Pyay, in Bago Region, Myanmar.[1] It is a key institution dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of artifacts recovered from Sri Ksetra, which was once the largest and most influential Pyu settlement, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014 as part of the "Pyu Ancient Cities."
History
[edit | edit source]Archaeological work at Sri Ksetra dates back to the early 20th century, with significant explorations by figures such as Emil Forchammer (1882-1883), Taw Sein Ko, and the Leon de Beylie (1905-1907). In the 1900s, the Epigraphy Department began storing antiquities found at the Sri Ksetra site in a small building. The Thayet Taw Museum was established near the Sri Ksetra palace site between 1907 and 1910.[1] After it burned down in 1915, the first official museum, called Kyaukka Thein Museum, was established there.[1]
The current museum building was built between 1960 and 1961, and opened in 1962.[1] Systematic excavations intensified after the 1960s, continually enriching the museum's collection.
Collection
[edit | edit source]The museum consistently displays around 265 cultural artifacts, though its total collection encompasses a much larger number, with 5,998 objects recorded as of recent inventories.[2] The majority of the artifacts date to the country's Pyu period of the first millennium CE.[2] The collection provides a comprehensive insight into the art, culture, and daily life of the ancient Pyu people.[2]