Centre of Prehistoric Civilisation Study and Art
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| Showcase in Museum Hall |
The museum comprises 4 buildings; the exhibition is divided
into 9 parts. You will receive a brochure describing the culture, ceramic
characteristics and periods. Please take time to read before entering. It will
make you enjoy visiting more.
The attractions, in addition to showcasing
thousands of pieces of prehistoric art objects, curators also present the
archaeological process in the simulation of real events. Beginning from
exploring, cleaning, restoring, researching and presentation that they are very
well done. You may enjoy the adventure of archaeologists and spend more hour
than expect.
The museum presents the life of prehistoric
people of Ban Chiang, such as residential living, dress, illness and belief. To
be believed they have their own wisdom.
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| Archaeological Site Exhibition |
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| Working on Process |
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| Archaeologist Office on Site |
Accidental
Found
History
of this civilisation was discovered by chance from a stumble down the earth by
fragment of pottery of Mr. Steve Young, a student of anthropology at Harvard
University, when he attended the field studies at Ban Chiang over 50 years ago.
Fragments of pottery strike his mind very much. Then, Ban Chiang civilisation
has been opened the door to the world, officially. When pieces of pottery were
brought to archaeologists throughly examined.
Ban
Chiang pottery has been discovered by the locals for a long time without anyone
knowing the truth of them. When found, villagers brought them to the community
leaders to store. There were some who sold to antiques collectors. These
potteries are rare to be in perfect condition. Because they were made for the
burial, that had to be smashed before being placed over the corpses and, or
being buried a long time.
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| Middle Period Belief and Pottery |
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| Infant Jar Burial |
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| Decorative Items and Utensils of Daily Use |
One
of Great Collections
Ban
Chiang potteries made from clay baked at low temperatures. Valuable in terms of
archeology but they are not objects made from precious material. There is no
value in terms of the sacred such as votive tablets. Popularity among Thai
people would not widespread. But in the eyes of art collectors, these antiques
are really attractive.
Not
for Private Own?
Collecting
Ban Chiang artifacts illegally have news both overseas and Thailand. Some
collector possess with thousands of pieces. Some are in the process of law.
Some bring them back to the museum. To be wonder how to
the museum keep all artifacts this up?
It is
known among locals that people who possess illegally have to return the
antiques to the museum. They are not happy. Something threatens them, like a
nightmare.
The
Fall of Ancient Ban Chiang
The
owner of ancient civilisation moved out over 2,000 years before. Due to environment
was not suitable for living anymore. Present dwellers are the immigrants from
Laos. They have settled here more than 200 years ago.
Finale
The
charm of Ban Chiang artifacts in my opinion is the various patterns on the
potteries from three eras. There are at least 7. Some are drawn as
animals or people. We may pause to see each jar. Considering the pattern and curious to know how was the
pottery related to their death on 5,000 years ago.
