Ban Na Di

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Ban Na Di ( Thai : บ้านนา ดี ) is an archaeological site in the district ( Amphoe ) Nong Na Kham of the province of Khon Kaen in the northeast region of Thailand , the so-called Isan .

Excavation history

During a tour in 1980, Charles Higham's team recognized the importance of the Ban Na Di area as a potential site for a prehistoric settlement. In the following year, two areas were examined in the center of the hollow, which were about 30 meters apart. Eight layers of archaeologically interesting material were found at a depth of four meters, the three deepest of which belong to the Bronze Age .

Finds

The finds from Ban Na Di include bronze objects as well as remains of equipment for the production of bronze. With the help of radiocarbon dating, coal remains could be traced back to 1400 to 1000 BC. To be dated.

In position 7 they found a cemetery with rows arranged like skeletons that were superimposed over time, as well as in Khok Phanom Di occurs. This location dates from 700 to 400 BC. In this layer a kiln was found for the production of bronze, which was still filled with coal, and also two complete crucibles in the form of a bowl. One of them is 125 millimeters long, the other a little longer, but both took up around 80 ml of molten metal, enough to make a spout ax . The preferred mixture for alloys was 9 parts copper and 1 part tin .

At the latest for the time after 1000 BC. There are traces of an economic network on an exchange basis with copper mines in the valley of Khao Wong Prachan and Phu Lon. An examination of 63 skeletons revealed an average height of 1.73 meters for men and 1.61 meters for women, so they were relatively tall. Average life expectancy was short: 29.5 years for men and a little less than 38 years for women. Two women lived to be over 50, but none of the men could reach that age.

See also

Ban Mueang Phruek is 10 km to the southwest and Ban Phak Top is 10 km to the west , both of which also have prehistoric traces.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Houghton and Wiriyaromp (1984), pp. 391-412

literature

  • Charles Higham and Rachanie Thosarat: Prehistoric Thailand: from early settlements to Sukhothai . Bangkok: River Books 1998. ISBN 9748225305 .
  • P. Houghton and W. Wiriyaromp: "The people of Ban Na Di". In: Charles Higham and A. Kijn (Eds.): Prehistoric Investigations in Northeast Thailand . Oxford: British Archaeological Reports (International Series), 231.