Whose Prehistory? Thailand before the Thais

Archaeological investigations at Ban Chiang, northeast Thailand, revealed significant Neolithic and Bronze Age sites that challenged French colonial theories of cultural diffusion. These findings, uncovered by joint Thai-American missions in the 1960s–70s, were intertwined with Cold War politics, leading to extensive artifact transfers, including to The University Museum, Philadelphia. Ban Chiang later gained UNESCO World Heritage status but remains peripherally remembered in Thai cultural memory despite its archaeological significance.

Peleggi, M. (2017). Whose Prehistory? Thailand before the Thais. Monastery, Monument, Museum. https://doi.org/10.21313/hawaii/9780824866068.003.0007