Most, if not all, areas of Northeastern region of Thailand are lavishly bestowed with ancient cultural traditions, ranging in age from prehistoric to historic times. One of the areas with rich but least known cultural heritage in the region is the vast land known as Thung Kala Rong Hai in Roi Et Province. Archaeological investigations in the area have revealed unique and long prehistoric mortuary tradition dated to the Neolithic (ca. 4000 BP) and Iron Age (ca. 500 BC to AD 300). The area also witnessed the establishment of ancient Khmer culture and civilization as there are numerous Khmer styled monumental architectures in the area. Those archaeological and historical remains suggest that the land has remained as a significant cultural landscape for thousands of years.

On Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 February 2020, The Siam Society is arranging a Study Trip for members to visit Roi Et and Ubon Ratchathani Province. On this trip, we will see, experience, and learn about exclusive prehistoric and historic cultural legacy, which is little known in general public, through key site visits, museum tours, and so on.

Dr Thanik Lertcharnrit is an associate professor of archaeology and full-time faculty member at the Department of Archaeology, Silpakorn University. He earned his BA with honours in archaeology from the Department of Archaeology, Silpakorn University in Bangkok, MA and PhD degrees from the Department of Anthropology, Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, USA. During the past 30 years, he has done archaeological research and excavations of prehistoric sites in central Thailand, and has published numerous articles on the subject.