This art-and-conservation study analyses deteriorated murals at Wat Prasat in Nonthaburi and creates hypothetical digital reconstructions to communicate lost visual elements, followed by viewer evaluation.
Key findings
- The murals were attributed to the middle-to-late Ayutthaya period and grouped into Past Buddhas, thepphanom and Ten Great Jatakas; several panels are lost and lower portions are substantially deteriorated. Viewers reported very high satisfaction and perceived educational and cultural-preservation value.
Why this matters globally
Transparent interpretive reconstruction could support other deteriorated heritage sites and virtual tours, provided observed evidence, analogical comparison and artistic inference are clearly separated.
Thai researcher contribution
Thanapon Junkasain, affiliated with Rajamangala University of Technology Isan and Rattanakosin, developed the project around Nonthaburi heritage and digital interpretation.
Limitations to consider
The abstract does not report evaluator sample size, composition, expert agreement or reliability. Satisfaction does not validate historical accuracy, and lost details cannot be directly recovered. Uncertainty labelling and separation from source documentation are essential.