The main building exhibits archaeological excavated artefacts unearthed during the
1957 - 1958 period, including Buddha images of the Dvaravati, Lop Buri and Ayutthaya
periods.
On the ground floor we find one of the important pieces - a large stone seated Buddha
of the Dvaravati period (6-11th century) once enshrined at Wat Phra Men in Nakhon
Pathom province. The Fine Arts Department was able to reconstruct the image, which
broken pieces had to be gathered in different locations. There are only six statues of this
kind in the world of which five are residing in Thailand. Wat Na Phra Men in Ayutthaya
houses one of these other five and is worthwhile a visit.
A bronze head from a Buddha image of the U-Thong period excavated at Wat
Thammikarat in Ayutthaya shows the fine ancient craftsmanship in casting religious
objects. Examples of wood carvings of the Ayutthaya school can be seen, such as door
panels of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Hantra, and a carved gable of Wat Mae Nang
Plum. This section displays also a number of Buddha images, including some of those
found inside the Buddha image Phra Mongkhon Bophit (other images can be found in the
Chan Kasem Museum and the Bangkok National Museum).