Dating the Bronze Age of Southeast Asia. Why Does it Matter?

Radiocarbon dating of human bone, freshwater shell, charcoal, and rice grains from Ban Chiang Archaeological Site confirms the arrival of rice and millet farmers in mainland Southeast Asia by the end of the 3rd millennium BC, with bronze casting emerging around 1100 BC. This challenges recent claims that question the integrity of Bayesian-modelled radiocarbon results, reinforcing the established chronological framework for the region's Bronze Age. The study highlights the rapid social transformations following metallurgy's introduction, providing a robust foundation for understanding Southeast Asian prehistory.

Higham, C. F., Higham, T. F., & Douka, K. (2020). DATING THE BRONZE AGE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. WHY DOES IT MATTER? Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, 43, 43–67. https://doi.org/10.7152/jipa.v43i0.15411