Ban Chiang, Northeast Thailand, Volume 2: Metals

Excavations at Ban Chiang, Northeast Thailand, revealed groundbreaking evidence of early metallurgy in Southeast Asia, with copper or bronze artifacts dating to the fourth millennium BCE (possibly as early as 3600 BCE) and iron artifacts from the second millennium BCE. These findings suggest an independent development of metallurgy in the region, challenging previous assumptions about technological diffusion. Conducted by the Thailand Fine Arts Department and the University of Pennsylvania between 1974 and 1975, this large-scale excavation aimed to study prehistoric pottery and metal artifacts in their original context amid significant looting pressures. The site's archaeological significance later led to its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Welch, D. J. (2021). Ban Chiang, Northeast Thailand, Volume 2: Metals. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 52(2), 336–340. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022463421000461