The Metals Monograph is a four part scholarly text depicting and analyzing the metallurgy related artifacts found at Ban Chiang. The new review, by Dr. Tzehuey Chiou-Peng, looks primarily at the fourth part of the monograph, Volume 2D. Volume 2D includes a comprehensive catalog of the artifacts from Ban Chiang and contextual information for each. This review was published in the Journal of the Siam Society.
Prior to discovery of those bronze artifacts which led to the 1974-1975 excavation seasons, Northeastern Thailand was thought to have adopted metalsmithing via diffusion from Asian Northern Steppe tradition and other forms of foreign trade. Following an accidental discovery by an anthropologist visiting Ban Chiang, the ancient site became a hotbed for archaeological research, creating “The Ban Chiang Project”. The prevailing theory originating after the excavations, is that metallurgy arose in Northeast Thailand well before previously believed and was not entirely dependent on foreign influence. From this research, Dr. Joyce White and Dr. Elizabeth Hamilton assembled the metals monograph to educate anthropologists and archaeologists on the bronze artifacts found and the contexts in which they were deposited.
Reviewer Dr. Tzehuey Chiou-Peng has this to say about volume 2D: “The volume’s commitment to analytical transparency, methodological rigor, and the integration of diverse forms of evidence makes it an indispensable resource for scholars seeking to advance our understanding of prehistoric technology, social organization, and interregional interaction. As such, Ban Chiang Volume 2D stands as both the culmination of decades of dedicated research and a foundation for future inquiry into the complex trajectories of early metal production in the broader region.”
Below is the full review: