Zooarchaeology of Ban Chiang and the rise of early farming communities in mainland Southeast Asia

Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, located on Thailand's Khorat Plateau, reveals a unique faunal record that contrasts sharply with coastal Southeast Asian sites. Excavations indicate that early farmers (ca. 1500 BC) introduced domesticated cattle, water buffaloes, pigs, and dogs from southern China, integrating them into an economy that also relied on hunting, fishing, and shellfish gathering. Notably, jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) may have been locally domesticated. Unlike coastal sites where pigs and dogs dominated, Ban Chiang's inland environment shows a strong presence of domestic cattle and chickens. Recent research highlights an agricultural revolution (ca. AD 200) involving animal traction and plowing in the drier Mun River Valley, which facilitated early state formation. However, this shift appears muted or absent at Ban Chiang due to its higher natural rainfall, suggesting regional variability in the transition to complex societies.

Higham, C. F. W., & Kijngam, A. (2022). Zooarchaeology of Ban Chiang and the rise of early farming communities in mainland Southeast Asia. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 33(1), 51–69. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.3174