Discover
Discover
Ban Chiang, in Udon Thani province, is considered the most important prehistoric settlement yet discovered in Southeast Asia. It preserves early evidence of farming and of making and using metals in the region. Its best-known finds are pots painted with red swirling designs.
History
History
UNESCO sees Ban Chiang as marking an important stage in human cultural, social and technological development. Its layers record change from early farming communities into the age of metals, letting archaeologists follow one community's development over a long span of time.
People & Culture
People & Culture
Burials with pots and ornaments placed beside the dead point to beliefs about the afterlife and to social differences. The painted pottery shows a distinctive craft tradition. For us, Ban Chiang is a reminder that the region's cultural roots run deeper than its written history.
Living Heritage
Living Heritage
Ban Chiang remains a living village, with a museum and excavation pits open to visitors. Local makers draw on the ancient painted designs for contemporary crafts, so a past thousands of years old has become part of people's identity and livelihood today.
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