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Home , Lopburi Province, Roi Et Province, Surin Province, Udon Thani Province

Archaeological Projects 1980-1983: Department of Anthropology, Silpakorn University,

by Pornchai Suchitta

Since late 1979, some staffmem- dated to ca. 6th century A.D. based which eventually became higher as bers from the Department of An- on C-14 analyses. An approach a result of frequent iron smelting thropology, Silpakorn University, called ethnotechnology by the re- operations. The hypothesized shaft Bangkok, , have been ac- searcher covering elhnohistory, type of furnace, a superstructure as tively engaged in four majoi ethnoarchaeology, ethnography and seen from the archaeological data, archaeological projects. These pro- documentary research was used to was built of clay supported by jects may be summarised as follows. discern the obscure iron smelting wooden frames while it was in its practice in Thailand through time. constructional stage. Tuyeres made Project i This research revealed that since of clay tempered with pebbles from the prehistoric laterite rocks were inserted into the The first project, "The History iron use was known and we assum- and Development of Iron Smelting ed that the knowledge of iron mak- Technology in Thailand," was con- ing was also known. A concrete Remains of 6th century A.D. ducted as a Ph.D. dissertation sub- evidence of iron smelting in Thai- iron smelting furnace at Ban mitted to Brown University last land Gara&titom the site of Ban Di Di Lung, Province, November 1982 by Pornchai Suchit- Lung, . A survey showing tuyere fragments with ta. at this village revealed that the an- large chunks of slag on the cient smelters built their furnaces outer edge of the feature A survey was made in locating on mounds or slightly raised ground (scale = 50 cm.). and identifying the remains of an- cient iron smelting operations and the technology involved at various ancient settlements located in the central and lower northeast . More than fifty sites were identified. Major attention was focused at Lopburi province, central region, where an archaeolo- gical excavation was carried out at an ancient iron smelting village

Dr. Pornchai Suchitta is a lecturer of anthropology in Silpakorn University. He had participated as official delegate from Thailand to a SPAFA activity. 38

Bunrum, Srisaket, Surin, Roi-et, and Ubon Ratchatani. During the survey, surface collec- tion of ancient artifacts especially potsherds was carried out at all of the identified sites.

The survey team was able to identify 199 archaeological sites (prehistoric and historic) .in the sur- veyed area. About 35% of the total historic sites revealed that these sites are surrounded by ancient moats ranging from single to triple in construction and some by earth walls.

Examples of prehistoric findings include polished stone adzes and Remains of tuyere fragments showing slag wetted ends, axes, and various types and kinds vitrified and reduced areas along the sample; also shown are of earthenware pottery found in slag samples from the excavation at Ban Di Lung, Lop- the area of , Roi- buri province (scale = 30 cm). et province. Another site which is located at Non Yang, along one of the tributaries of the , furnace. Bellows, most. probably iron tor their own benefit Utilizing r made of bamboo as seen today, the basic smelting operation, they Chumphonbu i district, Surin pro- were used to induce the air into the produced relatively good iron vince, was identified. Charcoal furnace via the tuyeres. Evidence bloom with 0.28% of carbon con- sample was obtained from the ex- of the use of preheating the air via tent. posed stratigraphy (excavated) of the tuyeres at such an early date This research was kindly support- this site in association with painted suggests the possibility of an indi- ed by the Ford Foundation and the potsherds in stripes dated from C-14 genous practice of this technology. Wenner-Gren Foundation for analysis to be 3000 + 250 B.P. This unique painted earthenware in The iron ore used tor smelting Anthropological Research. A copy at Ban Di Lung was mainly hema- of this dissertation will be available stripes (dark red cr brown) en the tite, probably procured from the in 1984 through the University body with painted lines on the area of Khao Thab Kwai Moun- Microfilms International. inner flared,r.irrris. widely distribut- tain about 40 km. away from the ed in the Mun-Ctii basin. So far it site. Charcoal with a low fixed has not been reported to exist in carbon content was used as fuel in the upper northeast region or the smelting iron ore. The slag was Project II Sakon Nakon basin. In addition to tapped off the furnace as evidenced The second project, "The Survey this unique painted pottery, pots by the physical appearance and the and Study of Archaeological Sites with painted lines on the flared rim location of the slag found. The tem- in the^ Lower Mun-Chi, Lower containing human bones were also perature reached in the furnace was Northeast Thailand," was carried found at many sites, for example, probably above 1200°C with the out at the beginning of 1981 by at Ban Ya Wuk, . The aid of preheating the air as evidenc- Srisakara Vallibhotama (team lea- excavation at Ban Ya Wuk is ex- ed from tuyere fragments indicating der), Put Veeraprasert, Pornchai pected to be continued this summer vitrified and reduced areas. There Suchitta, and W.J. van Liere who 1983. is no clear evidence of flux use in joined part of the survey. The iron smelting at Ban Di Lung. Un- report of the survey was prepared Other significant findings include fortunately, no iron bloom was and submitted in 1981 to the evidence of the spread of Khmer found from the excavations. Engineering Consul- culture into the Mun-Chi basin as The research also covers an his- tants (NEDECO) .as a'feasibility seen from art objects and temples. torical survey on the role of iron study for the Project, These are found in the area of Tha and its technology as practised in Bangkok. Turn district, Surin province, passing Thailand from the historical period The main purpose of this project Tung Kula Ronghai to Ku Phra Ko up to the present. Also, an ethno- was to locate and identify archaeo- Na at Suwanaphum district, Roi-et historical enquiry was conducted at logical sites located along the tribu- province. From there, it spreads up Bho Luang village in Chiangmai taries of the Mun and Chi Rivers or to Lam Nam to Roi-et and Mahasa- province where resided the Lawa Mun-Chi basin which covers area in rakham provinces. people. The Lawa used to smelt the provinces of Mahasarakham, Moreover, traces of ancient salt 39

Left: Examples of earthenware potsherds painted in stripes found throughout the Mun-Chi basin, e.g. at Ban Non Sung, Rasisisalai district, Srisaket province. Right: Examples of fine painted parallel lines on earthenware potsherds found at various sites in the Mun-Chi basin, e.g. at Ban fha Klang, making at various historic sites , KaJasin province. starling from Kaset Wisai to Suwan- naphum districts, Roi-et province, were revealed. A good example comes from the area along the Lam composition by weight in the sam- covers the Nam Nam Sieo where many high mound ples is above 35%. This is expected and its tributaries such as the Huai settlements are located which in ancient iron smelting operations Pla Hang, the Huai Nam Yam, the show that salt-making was possi- where a high percentage of iron is Mong, the Nam Kam and the Huai ble till recently.-Various types of left in the slag. The findings of these Luang. Special attention was fo- potsherds such as the glazed Khmer metal operations, presumably iron, cused on the riverine areas which stoneware of Lopburi period were at many ancient setttemeeSajsUjigest are located in the provinces of found at these ancient settlements. that metal work and use were im- Sakon Nakon and . portant activities which might have Metal smelting/working is also . contributed to and enhanced the The main purpose of this project, evidenced from the presence of slag trade network among those who which is similar to the Lower Mun- in great quantity. The survey smelt iron and those who do not. Chi Basin Project, is to identify reveals more than 40 ancient metal and locate archaeological sites in presumably to be iron smelting/ the Nam Songkhram basin in order working sites located within the an- Project Hi to discern their cultural significance cient settlements distributed in the prior to their further annual des- seven provinces surveyed. Examples truction due to the inundation in include Ban Ya Wuk, Surin pro- The third project is another the area in addition to the diggings vince; Ban Tha Nain, Suwanna- archaeological study and survey of by the villagers as pot hunters. The phum district, Roi-et province; Ban the Nam Songkhram Basin, upper annual flooding in the basin comes Khok Muang, Satuk district, Buri- northeast Thailand. The team is from the high water level in the rum province; Ban Don Klua, Rasi- composed of Srisakara Vallibhota- Mekong River which has Nam Song- salai district, Srisaket province; Ban ma (teamleader), Rut Veeraprasert, khram as one of its tributaries. Bung Kae, Mahachanachai district, and two more staffmembers who It is apparent from the survey ; Ban Si Suk, joined part of the survey, i.e., that this region, as it is geographi- Nuang Noi district, Ubon Ratcha- Pornchai Suchitta and W.J. van cally separated from the Korat tani province; and Ban Khe Lhek, Liere. The report was submitted Basin of the Mun-Chi drainage sys- Phayak-khaphumphisai district. in March 1982 to the Netherlands tem by the interruption of the Phu Mahasarakham province. Engineering Consultants (NEDECO) Phan Range, is no doubt another Slag samples from these sites as a feasibility study for the cultural area within the northeast were chemically analyzed. The test Mekong Project, Bangkok. region of Thailand. What makes it revealed that the average iron (Fe) The area under investigation distinct from the Korat counterpart 40

become obvious during the metal pears from the ground surface Project IV period (ca. 500 B.C.). In addition survey from the latter site that this The fourth project which is in to the ceramic tradition, the Song- ancient site had a continuous oc- progress deals with an archaeologi- kran Basin people practised primary cupation from the prehistoric time cal and historical study and survey burial, e.g. , for the dead up to the recent historic period as of riverine adaptation along the from the beginning until the late evidenced from the presence of an- Jorakee Samphan River and its protohistoric time, This is in con- cient sema stone (ca. 10th century tributaries, Suphanburi province. trast with the Korat Basin tradition, A.D.), Khmer-like potsherds (ca. The archaeological survey and particularly that of the lower Mun- 11th-12th century A.D.), and Lao- excavations are directed by Porn- Chi basin, that developed a general tian temple (ca. 18thcentury A.D.). chai Suchitta and the historical pattern of secondary burial some- It is hoped that future systematic survey part of this project, by time during the metal period con- Suebsang Phrombun from the His- tinuing until the historical time. excavations in this area would shed more light concerning the develop- tory Department, Thammasart Uni- ment of prehistoric culture or cul- versity, Bangkok. This project is The survey team was able to tures in northeast Thailand. funded by the Thai Kadi Institute. identify and locate 172 archaeolo- gical sites (prehistoric and historic) in the surveyed area of the Nam Songkram. About 45% of the total sites identified have the Ban Chiang type of painted pottery. A dense concentration of the Ban Chiang culture is located in the flooded plain southwest of Mai Pla Hang and south of Huai Nam Yam. Despite the controversial proposed date of the early Ban Chiang cul- ture, i.e., 3600 B.C. by Gorman and Charoenwongsa 1976, the survey team felt that more excavations should be carried out at another major sites for comparative dating such as at Ban Phon Sung, Sawang- dangdin district, Udon Thani; at Ban Tung Chuak, Waritchaphum district, Sakon Nakon province; and at Ban Phanna, Swangdangdin dis- trict, . It ap-

Excavation at Ban Yu Wuk, Surin province, showing a group of burial pots with human skeletal remains inside and outside the pots (scale = 50 cm.) 41

NL-1 '82 : showing the exposed Etched carnelian bead found by a villager in a burial near stratigraphy with shell remains U-thong district, Suphanburi province at Ban Na Lau, district, Suphanburi province

Archaeological test excavations were conducted last October 1982 in the area of Ban na Lao and Ban Jorakee Samphan, U-thong district, Suphanburi province. The aims are to discern the stratigraphy and its associated artifacts, to trace the cultural development of this area and its chronology from the prehis- toric era up to the present, and to compare the data from these ex- cavated sites to other known archaeological sites in the nearby areas and abroad such as . Left: NL-H'82 : a polished stone adze was found in situ at The villagers reported that etched 90 - 700 cm. depth at Ban Na Lao, U-thong district, Suphan- agate and carnelian beads which buri province. Right : Agate beads in various forms and appear to have been imported from colours found by a villager near U-Thong district, Suphanburi India around the early centuries province A.D. had been found in ancient burials at various places especially shellfish which is usually found be- partment of Anthropology hopes to in U-thong and nearby districts. low one meter depth. At present publish the final reports from these Our test excavations reveal arti- the excavated data are still being studies and surveys in the very near facts such as polished stone axes, analyzed. It is hoped that a preli- future. In'addition, further excava- various types of earthenware pot- minary report will be cut by the tions are planned around the sherds, a few glass beads, and frag- middle of 1983. middle of this year; a return to the ment of stone ornaments. At about ancient site at Ban Ya Wuk, Surin Final Remarks 75 cm depth animal bones were province is expected. It is hoped found in association with a burnt Further work is being carried that the data from these general area with pieces of charcoal out on these four archaeological surveys would shed some light on around. Charcoal samples from this projects described here. These in- future excavations in discerning the layer were sent for C-14 analysis. clude metallurgical study and pot- obscure cultural development in the northeast and central regions of Other major faunal remains include tery analyses on samples from Thailand through time. a great quantity of fresh water various archaeological sites. The De-