The Thai Fine Arts Department has recently created many Natinal Museums int the various province of Thailand. Here a new national museum in the town of Ubon Ratchathani. Northeastern Thailand, will be described. the collection of the museum contains objects. mostly of local origin. Originally the goverment house of Ubon provice, the building of the new museum was probably used intne sixth reign of Bangkok (1910-1925 Ad.).It has been renovated for use as a museum.          On both sides of the entrance into the building. are two stone boundary makers belonging to the Dvaravati period (8th-10th century AD.), taken from Wat Pho Sila these makers represent a stylized stupa in the middle. The shape of the boundary makers was probably derived from the prehistoric period. Many of the same type have been found in the Northeastern Thailand. The stylixed stupas were created after Buddhism was accepted by the Thai, for use as worshipping objects. Scenes from the life of the Buddha were also carved on these stupas. Nevertheless, inside the museum building is a row of rooms with an inner verandah, running around a rather large central room. The central room is now used as a lecture hall.          On the both sides of the inner verandah is a stond inscription in Sanskrit, dating back to the 6th-7th century A.D. It came from the right bank of the Mun river in Khong Chiam district, province of Ubon. An epigraphist of the Thai National Library deciphered the inscription as, " The king whose name is Chitrasena is the son of Srivarman and recieves the name after his coronation as Sri Mahendra varman. After he has conquered the whole land of Kambu, he has the Sivalinga established on this mountain as the monument of his victory " King Chitrasena-Mahendravarman was a Khmer king and his reign probably started from early 7th century. His power extended to the Northease and the east of present-day Thailand. THE FIRST & THE SECOND ROOM          On the left, the first and the second room is the geography-geology room of Ubon Ratchathani provice. This room shows he maps mineral resouces and gems of the province. THE THIED ROOM          The second room is the prehistoric room, displaying inplements and pottery found in Ubon province. inside are stone tools such as those of Early Urban Society as well as cord marked pottery, about 1,500-1,800 years old, found in Ban Kan Luang, Tambon Kham Yai, Muang sidtrict. A copy of the prehistoric paintingat at Pha Taem on the Mekhong river hangs on one wall. Itdepicts fishes and the implements for a bronze kettle drum from Ban che tuen, Khanf Nai district. It is About 2,5000-2,000 years ago. A bronze bell for a cattle is also exhibited here. THE FOURTH ROOM          The fourth room is called the Dvaravati room, displayed here are objects pertaining to the Cvaravati period or those from contemporary epochs, such as the sacred boundaru stone, the stone Buddha image in meditation, and the standing Buddha is made of the same material, from Nuang Sam Sib district, and dates back to about the 8th-9th century A.D.Included in this Dvaravati collection are aKhmer stone door-colume of Prei Kmeng Style and two Somasutra (a piece of stone where lustral water can flow out). One Somasutra is in the shape of a Makara (a mytrical aniaml representing a crocodile with an elephant trunk). All of them were fond in a deserted Khmer monument at Wat Kang Toi, Tambon Tha Muang, Don moddang district. They may date back ti ehe second half of the 7th century A.D..          The masterpiece of the Ubon Natonal Museum is located in the fourth room. It is a stone image of Ardhanarisvara (Siva, one of the greatest Hindu gods,mixed withhis consort,Uma or Parvati,into a single statue). Discovered at Ubon, it dares back to about the 9th century A.S. it was preserved in the Bangkok National Museu for some time before it was returned to Ubon. The statue represents a seated divinity.On the right side of this divinity is male consort and on the left side it a female. The female consort is considered a sakti or his headgear and the belt are also different. The statue, although rare in Southeast Asia, is rather comman in India. THE FIFTH ROOM          The fifth room might be called the Khmer room because of the Khmer objects siplayed. The most interesting object here is probably the lintel in Kampong Preah Style, 8th century A.D.. It was given to the Fine Arts Department by a man inthe Sisaket Province. Northeast Thailand. It is at yet unknown.          Historically speaking. Cambodia was in turmoil is the 8thcentury. Because it was divided into Land and Water Chenla, khmer art during that period hardly expanded to present-day Thailand. What was actually given ti the Fine Arts Department were only the two lateral sides of the lintel. The central piece has disappeared. So far, this lintel is the oly known Khmer lintel in Kampong Preah Style over found in Thailand, that is, if it was not imported from Cambodia.          Apart from the above mentioned lintel, other objects are also displayed. They are the stone figure of Ganesa inKoh Ker Style (first half of the 10th century A.D.). found in Tumbon Non Ka Len, Sam Rong district; apiece of a stone pediment which may be in the Baphuon Style (Second half of 11th century A.D.) or Angkor Wat Style 12th century A.D.); a group of Buddha images found in the province fo Ubon Ratchathani. The large Khmer jars, a stone Somasutra, a Sivalinga from the 11th-12th century A.D., and another stone lintel in the Khmer.          Another interesting object is the stone block representing the figures of nine divinities. These divinities are purposed to be the four pa\lanets (Aditya chandra,moon,Rahu and Ketu). the four guardians of compass directions, and Indra shown in the midst of the four guardians. Indra, god of the east , is shown riding an elephant. This piece of stone sculpture was discovered at /ban Ban. Detudm district. Ubon Province. Found near the doorway of a ruined Khmer temple, this stone block has been suggested to be alintel. Dating back to the 10th century A.D.. THE SIXTH ROOM          The sixth room contains Buddha Images created by Ubon ratchathani craftsmen. The most interesting pieces here are the bronze and wooden images. The seated bronze Buddha Image, inthe attitude of subduing Mara, has an inscription on the base dating back to the 18th century A.D. this Buddha Image was lent by Wat Chaiyatikaram. The seated wooden Buddha Image is also in the Attitude of Subduing Mara. But it is protected by a three-headed Naga with a largh florel motif on a tower base. It belongs ti the same period as the Naga. This latter Buddha effigy may belong to the early 20th century. It is loaned from Wat Luang, Khemra district. THE SEVENTH ROOM The seventh room is Ubon ratchathani textile room. There are also local domestic articles as well as many examples of silk and cooton cloths produced in Northeastern Thailand. THE EIGHTH ROOM          The eighth room is right behind the lecture hall it is separate from the hall by an inner verandah and a small surrounding lawn. This back room displays local tradition and objects. A model of a group of male musicians, playing musical instruments from Northeastern Thailand is displayed here. A khaen (bamboo month organ, typical Northeastern Thailand) is exhibited on the eighth. A stringed instrucment THE NINTH ROOM          The ninth room is folk crafts room, the interesting articles are wood betel nut. brass works at Ban Pa-Ao. is one of the most famous folk crafts of ubon due to its quality, atyle and the ancient technique of making,kitchen ware andanimal traps. THE TENTH ROOM          Buddhist objects and photographs of ancient administrators of Ubon Ratchathani Province are displayed in tenth room. A long decorative wooden rod.int he form of Naga is one interesting Buddhist object. The Naga here is for recieving scented water poured on animage of the Buddha.          In the inner verandah around exhibition rooms a wooden pediment from Wat Pra Rot. dating back to the Bangkok Period (19th-20th century A.D.), a sacred boundary stone of Dvaravati style (9th century A.D.), a stone lintel of the Khmer. pediment frame of the Bangkpk Period are gathered in this area. All these objects were discovered inthe province of Ubon Ratchathani.