Mysteries of Ban Chiang (Folkways of Indochina)

The discovery of this bronze age site in Thailand in 1966 revolutionised the way we think about human development, as it shows that the bronze age emerged in SE Asia around the same time, or perhaps even before it did in the Mesopotamian Valley.

The discovery started with the unearthing of some very distinctive and beautiful ancient pottery that dated to at least two thousand years BCE. This was much earlier than was previously known for the area.

But when the archeological dig began it turned up even more surprises, including early bronze ware, and showed that the civilisation around Ban Chiang was very sophisticated indeed, and built on a rich agricultural society.