Ban Chiang is an archaeological site Close to UdonThani

Ban Chiang is an archaeological site in the Nong Han District of Udon Thani Province. Since 1992 Ban Chiang has been on the UNESCO world heritage list. Ban Chiang was discovered in 1966 and the site attracts publicity due to its attractive red painted pottery.

Most Bronze objects include bracelets, rings, anklets, wires and rods, spearheads, axes and adzes, hooks and blades.

The Ban Chiang museum provides general information for the public about the site and its importance for human history.

Included in the museum’s collection is the traveling exhibit curated by Dr. Joyce White, titled Ban Chiang, Discovery of a Lost Bronze Age, which toured the U.S. and international sites following Penn Museum excavation.

The museum also includes displays and information that highlights the three main periods and six sub-periods” as well as the site’s general and excavation history.

Ban Chiang is in addition an official tourism site and promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Ban Chiang National Museum

Ban Chiang is an archaeological site in Nong Han District, Udon Thani Province, Thailand. It was discovered in 1966 and was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1992. The site is famous for its beautiful red painted pottery and has revealed a great deal about the cultural and technological conditions in prehistoric Thailand.

The Ban Chiang Museum offers visitors a look at various artifacts and provides information about the site and its historical importance.

My first impression of the museum was of its focus on King Bhumibol Adulyadej‘s visit to the site, the questions he asked and the comments he made. He did donate money that helped the project to proceed. My second impression was of the space spent on showing what archeological digs look like.

The museum does display a lot of different artifacts from the site.

With few such projects happening previously in Thailand, this one offered a lot of history that was unknown before. For example, this archeological dig revealed that Thailand entered its Bronze Age around 2000 BCE.

The museum grounds feature attractive gardens and art.

The area around the museum has clearly benefited economically from the archeological site and museum. The street is filled with gift shops like those shown below as well as restaurants and cafes.