CY-2019-074 A SIAM SOCIETY STUDY TRIP Journey to a Sacred Land of Ancient Culture in Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 February 2020 With Dr Thanik Lertcharnrit Associate Professor of Archaeology, Silpakorn University “Seeing and understanding prehistoric traditions and lifeways in central Northeast ” Most, if not all, areas of Northeastern region of Thailand are lavishly bestowed with ancient cultural traditions, ranging in age from prehistoric to historic times. One of the areas with rich but least known cultural heritage in the region is the vast land known as Thung Kala Rong Hai in Province. Archaeological investigations in the area have revealed unique and long prehistoric mortuary tradition dated to the Neolithic (ca. 4000 BP) and Iron Age (ca. 500 BC to AD 300). The area also witnessed the establishment of ancient Khmer culture and civilization as there are numerous Khmer styled monumental architectures in the area. Those archaeological and historical remains suggest that the land has remained as a significant cultural landscape for thousands of years. On Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 February 2020, The Siam Society is arranging a Study Trip for members to visit Roi Et and Province. On this trip, we will see, experience, and learn about exclusive prehistoric and historic cultural legacy, which is little known in general public, through key site visits, museum tours, and so on. Dr Thanik Lertcharnrit is an associate professor of archaeology and full-time faculty member at the Department of Archaeology, Silpakorn University. He earned his BA with Photo Credit: sac.or.th ศูนย์มานุษยวิทยาสิรินธร honours in archaeology from the Department of Archaeology, Silpakorn University in , MA and PhD degrees from the Department of Anthropology, Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, USA. During the past 30 years, he has done archaeological research and excavations of prehistoric sites in , and has published numerous articles on the subject. Tentative programme will be as followed: Day 1: Saturday 1 February 2020 6am Check in at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport, check-in counter for Air Asia. 7.15am Depart Don Mueang for Roi Et by Air Asia flight FD3566 8.25am Arrive at , transfer to the city for breakfast. - Visit Roi Et National Museum. Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon: Visit a prehistoric burial site at Muang Bua archaeological site in Thung Kula Ronghai plain. - Then visit Ku Ka Sing, a Khmer stone sanctuary in . After that proceed to Ubon Ratchathani province. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Ubon Ratchathani. Day 2: Sunday 2 February 2020 - Breakfast at the hotel. Morning: Visit Ubon Ratchathani National Museum and some of historic temples in the city. - Lunch at a local restaurant. En route: Visit a prehistoric burial mound at Ban Kan Luang. - Visit brass casting village at Ban Pa-Aow or other interesting sites in the area. After that proceed to . 7.05pm Depart Ubon Ratchathani Airport for Don Mueang by flight DD9319 8.05pm Arrive at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok.

The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary.

The contribution of THB 15,000 (THB 16,000 for non-members), single room surcharge THB 600 will cover transportation as mentioned in the programme, accommodation for 1 nights (two persons per room), meals as mentioned in the programme, gratuities and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges. Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society”. Alternatively, you can transfer the money to The Siam Society travel account at TMB Bank, Asoke Branch, saving account no. 053-2-18000-7. Please fax or e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us. For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert at Tel. 02-661-6470-3 ext. 504 or Khun Supanut Tel. 02-661-6470-3 ext. 506, Fax.02-258-3491 or email: [email protected]. The Society office is open from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

The Siam Society uses any financial revenue arising from its study trips to support the activities of the Society in its library, museum and publications programmes. The partner organisation of THE SIAM SOCIETY in conducting Study Trip in Thailand is Wishing Group Co. Ltd., License 11/06066