From the Academy to the Database March 16, 2026 78 0 Year of Botany Collections Database at the Academy of Natural Sciences Following her ethnobotanical research in the Ban Chiang region of Thailand in the early 1980’s, Dr Joyce White brought back to the United States over a thousand dried and preserved plant specimens. Like too much archaeological data, this collection languished within archives until 2024,
Blooming in Botany December 3, 2025 312 0 The Penn Museum’s “Year of Botany” brought together scholars around the world to explore the plant-related dimensions of the samples from Thailand’s Isaan Region. Dr. Joyce White, at the Penn Museum as Director of the Ban Chiang Project, has been investigating the materials of Ban Chiang for almost five decades, and for the “Year of
More with Mew: Her Contributions to the Ban Chiang Project December 3, 2025 248 0 Nichanan “Mew” Klangwichai joined the Ban Chiang Project from the Udon Thani City Museum to enhance the catalogued records. Mew worked to compile, translate, and investigate each record, even interviewing local community members. Some of the project work also included hands-on assembly and restoration. Mew served as a bridge for cultural connection and revival. This
It Took a Village: Representation and Inclusion for Anthropological Research October 8, 2025 324 0 Throughout the journey that was the Year of Botany, a team of 35 experts and volunteers were sourced from around the world to lend knowledge, perspective, and hard work to the project. The massive task of organizing, analyzing, mounting, and transporting the ethnographic and botanical collection was only made possible through the efforts of all
An Interview with Dr. Joyce White in “Popular Archaeology” October 8, 2025 226 0 Following his attendance to Dr. Joyce White’s lecture, “Pioneering Research in Thailand and Laos”, journalist Richard Marranca wanted to learn more about the research being done in Thailand and Laos and it’s lead investigator. This interview with Dr. White details her personal history with Thai archaeology, some background information in archaeology and archaeometallurgy, and how
Pioneering Research in Thailand and Laos: A Lecture by Dr. Joyce White October 8, 2025 191 0 Pioneering Research in Thailand and Laos: As one of the leading international institutions investigating the prehistory of Southeast Asia since the 1960s, Penn Museum projects have investigated early metallurgy, early agrarian societies, the stone age, climate change, early historic towns, and more in this relatively new area of archaeological research. Work at Ban Chiang, named
The Sixth ISEAA Early Career Award September 16, 2025 553 0 The Institute for Southeast Asian Archaeology announces the sixth round of the biennial award of $1000 for early career Southeast Asianist archaeologists. The committee solicits nominations and selects recipients for the Early Career Award in Southeast Asian Archaeology. The committee selects a single peer-reviewed article or chapter that has been published within five years of
Ban Chiang Takes the Stage at Society for American Archaeology April 29, 2025 369 0 Over the weekend, Drs. Joyce White and Elizabeth Hamilton gave paper presentations in the Denver Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Joyce presented at the Symposium: The Current State of Archaeological Research across Southeast Asia, and Elizabeth presented at Symposium: Archaeometallurgy, Eurasia, and Beyond: Papers in Honor of Vince Pigott. You can find
Sale! Ban Chiang Books for You April 22, 2025 378 0 The Ban Chiang metals monographs are on sale thanks to our ISD distributor and Penn Museum publishers! To get your hands on these fresh volumes, you can check out the books at the SAAs ISD booth (#206) or search for “Ban Chiang” at https://www.isdistribution.com/. Use our promo code 2817-25 at checkout for each item. White,
Save the Date: Dr. Joyce White & Archaeology in Action March 25, 2025 430 0 Dr. White in discussions with her colleagues in Laos On Thursday, Jun. 5 2025, from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Dr. Joyce White will be giving a virtual lecture on her research in Thailand and Laos. She will discuss her collaborations with international colleagues including Thai and Lao scholars of archaeology and indigenous traditions. Special
Staff Special: Nichanan “Mew” Klangwichai March 25, 2025 898 0 By Ella Jewel and Ke Xu Mew in the Ban Chiang Project office Mew’s journey to Penn’s Ban Chiang Project started in a village just a short distance from Ban Chiang. Her mother had once visited the site with Mew, sparking her daughter’s curiosity for archaeology early. It was a spark that caught, and by
2024 MMAP Accomplishments & Next Steps January 21, 2025 390 0 In Luang Prabang, the team began using the new workspace and loved the roomy 8-person workstations, collection storeroom, and shaded outdoor space. All of the 2023 members remained on board for 2024, leading to a happy reunion and deeper skill developments in archaeological illustration and ceramic variability, all leading to a very productive season. Issarawan
