Discovery of ancient town of Mon King

(IMNA: 12 December, 2005)

In what is an important finding, an ancient town built by a Mon King was discovered by the Mon History Research Group recently in Mudon township, southern Burma.

The town is now called Kaw-Paraing by the local Mon community and is situated in southwest Mudon Town, in the middle of farmland. It is about 20 Kilometres from Mudon town and it is home to a lot of ancient bricks and other artifacts. 

“One of our elders said “Kaw-Pa-Rank” which means ‘island beach town’, a resident of the town explained. The Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) group discovered the town. The MNDF Chairman Nai Tun Thein led the history research group to the town in the third week of November. 

There are many pictures in the likeness of women fashioned on the stones, along with ancient pots in the temple, ancient walls made of ancient bricks and a pagoda. It also has an ancient well. 

The engraved pictures had been drawn on ancient bricks and pots, said Nai Khin Maung Lay and Nai Tun Thein who are in charge of the ancient town, called the Kaw Pa-Rank King Town” which was founded at the time of Par-Da Kingdom (Rangoon).

Nai Khin Maung Lay and Nai Tun Thein have worked with Dr. Nai Pan Hla who published “Yar-Zar-Di-Rit-A-Yay-Daw-Pone”, the life of a famous Mon King Rae-Jae-Dhi-Raj, who had waged war for 40 years against the Burmese King “Byin-Min-Khung”. 

All three are historians who have published many books on ancient Mon tradition and culture, and the Mon inscription. Nai Khin Maung Lay was also in charge of Mon Traditional and Culture Museum in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State. 

Because there are many ancient Mon towns in the Mon area, in southern Mon State, a group of Burmese professors wrote a textbook on its history after visiting “Wae-Kha-Ruu” an ancient town near Thanpyuzayart town.