Research & Article

The small hamlet of Ban Kao in the Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand is characterized by numerous sites bearing evidence of a Hoabinhian tradition. This article serves as an initial report on the investigations of the Thai-Danish prehistoric expedition of this area in the years from 1960 to 1962, offering new insights on the neolithic period in Southeast Asia. Beginning with a survey of the area and an outline of the methodology of the expedition, the paper largely focuses on a preliminary analysis of the numerous artifacts found by the archaeological team, the most prominent of which being pottery. Particularly crucial to a new understanding of the Hoabinhian tradition was the discovery of burial sites and the artifacts they contained. Also discussed are overall conclusions drawn from the exhibition’s findings, including the contextualization of these neolithic sites in relation to time and place.