Distribution of Archaeometallurgical Sites from East to West of Thailand

Surapol Natapintu

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Distribution of Archaeometallurgical Sitesfrom East to West of Thailand

Associate Professor Surapol Natapintu

(surapol.natapintu@gmail.com)

This presentation will focus primarily on providing information on thearchaeometallurgy related sites and brief knowledge on archaeometallrgy inThailand, especially those gained from the research projects supported by theThailand Research Funds (TRF). These are the Living Angkor Road ResearchProject and the Research Project on the Relationship of the Past through thePresent Local Culture for the Development of Database on cultures and AncientCivilization in the Greater Mekhong Sub-region and Malay peninsular.

The sites and archaeometallurgy related evidence to be describeded inthis presentation can primarily categorized into 3 groups; namely, copper-based metallurgy iron metallurgy, and lead metallurgy sites.

Introduction

1. Copper and Copper – Based Metallugy

Phu Lon, Sangkhom District, Nongkhai Province, Northeast Thailand

Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Lopburi Province, Central Thailand

Ancient Copper Mines in Thailand

Phu Lon (Bald Mountain), Sangkhom District, Nongkhai Province,

Northeast Thailand

Remains of Ancient Copper Mines at Phu Lon, Northeast Thailand

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Remains of Ancient Copper Mines at Phu Lon, Northeast Thailand, comprise mining shafts, adits and galleries

Remains of Ancient Copper Mines at Phu Lon, Northeast Thailand

Ancient mining shaft and samples of stone mining maul found at Phu Lon ancient copper mine

Excavation at “Pottery Flat”, the ancient copper ore dressing area, on the northeastern slope of PhuLon

Non Non NongNong HorHor Archaeological Site, Archaeological Site, NikhomNikhom KhamKham SroiSroi District, District, MukdaharnMukdaharn Province, Province,

Northeast ThailandNortheast Thailand

A team of archaeologists of the Fine Arts Department Regional Office 11 (Ubonrachathani) was the first team who studied Non Nong Horarchaeological site and found important artefacts related to bronze metallurgy. These include copper ingots, bronze casting crucibles, fragments of ceramic mould for kettle bronze drum casting, and some bronze objects.

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Copper ingots and slag cast found at Non Nong Hor archaeological site Bronze casting crucibles found at Non Nong Hor archaeological site

Bronze casting crucibles found at Non Nong Hor archaeological site Fragments of ceramic mould for bronze kettle drum casting found at Non Nong Hor archaeological site

Fragments of ceramic mould for bronze kettle drum and ornament castings found at Non Nong Hor archaeological site

Analysis for the correlation of fragment of mould found at Non Nong Horand bronze kettle drum found at Kham Cha-i district, Mukdaharn province

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Analysis for the correlation of fragment of mould found at Non Nong Horand bronze kettle drum found at Kham Cha-i district, Mukdaharn province

Analysis for the correlation of fragment of mould found at Non Nong Horand bronze kettle drum found at Kham Cha-i district, Mukdaharn province

Tuyere attached to the inner side of bronze casting found at Non Nong Hor archaeological site

Non Nong Hor 3D Section

GIS software was used in the second archaeological excavation at Non Nong Hor, to perform realtime artefact database development as well as artefact distribution and archaeological deposits analyses during the excavation.

Dragon Field, Central Laos

Ban Sai Tho Jet, Ban Kruad District,BurirumProvince, Northeast Thailand

Ban Boeng Noi, Ban Kruad District,Burirum Province,

Northeast Thailand

Non Nong Hor, Nikhom Kham Sroi District,

Mukdaharn Province, Northeast Thailand

Dongson, Northern Vietnam

Correlation of artefacts found at Non Nong Hor and other sites in Thailand

and neighbouring countries

Copper Metallurgy Sites in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Central Thailand

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Ancient Copper Mines in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Lopburi Province, Central Thailand

1. Khao Thap Kwai, Khok Samrong District, Lopburi Province

2. Khao Phu Kha, Muang District, Lopburi Province

3. Khao Phra Ngam, Muang District, Lopburi Province

4. Khao Phra Baat Noi, Muang District, Lopburi Province

1. Khao Thap Kwai, Khok Samrong District, Lopburi Province

2. Khao Phu Kha, Muang District, Lopburi Province

3. Khao Phra Ngam, Muang District, Lopburi Province

4. Khao Phra Baat Noi, Muang District, Lopburi Province

Ancient Copper Mines in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Lopburi Province, Central Thailand

Khao Thap Kwai Khao Phu Kha

1. Non Pa wai, Huai Pong Village, Khok Samrong District

2. Non Mak Lai, Huai Pong Village, Khok Samrong District

3. Huai Yai, Lopburi Artillery Centre, Muang District

4. Nilkhamhaeng Reservoir, Army Aviation Center, Muang District

5. Ban Phromtin, Khok SamrongDistrict

6. Ban Tha Kae, Muang District, Lopburi Province

7. Anandhamahidol Hospital, MuangDistrict

8. Wat Thung Singto, Muang District

9. Khao Sai-on, Muang Distric

Ancient Copper Smeling Sites in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Lopburi Province, Central Thailand

1 & 21 & 2

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44

55

6677

88

99

Ancient Copper Smelting Sites in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Central Thailand

Non Pa Non Pa WaiWai Non Non MakMak LaLa

Non Pa wai, Huai Pong Village, Khok Samrong District, Lopburi Province, Central Thailand Deposits of copper smelting slag at Non Pa Wai ancient copper smelting site

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Copper smelting crucible found in the excavation at Non Pa Wai

Furnace collar for copper smelting found at Non Mak La

Brass casting furnace at Ban Pa Ao, Ubonrachathani province. The copper smelting furnace at Non Pa Wai might look similar to this furnace.

Comparision of physical characteristic of copper smelting slag samples from ancient copper smelting sites at Non Pa Wai and Non Mak La

Comparision of chemical characteristic of copper smelting slag samples from Non Pa Wai and Non Mak La

Bivalve, cup and conical mouls for copper ingot production found in the excavation at Non Pa Wai ancient copper smelting site

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Nilkhamhaeng Reservoir Site, Army Aviation Centre, Lopburi Province

Types of copper ingot produced in the copper smelting sites in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Lopburi province, Central Thailand

Ancient Copper Mines and Smelting Sites in Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Central Thailand

Copper Mine

Copper Smelting Site

LopburiLopburiTownTown

A type of copper ingot found in a burial at Nilkhamhaeng Reservoir ancient copper smelting site

Copper ingot of NilkhamhaengReservoir type, found at Ban Tham Tao archaeological site, Klang Dong Sub-district, Pak

Chong District, Nakhorn RatsimaProvince, Northeast Thailand

Correlation of copper artefacts found at copper production sites in Central Thailand and those found in other parts of Thailand

Copper ingot of Non Pawai and Non Mak La type, found at Ban Pong Manao archaeological site,

Lopburi Province, Central Thailand, located about 85 km. to the East of

Khao Wong Prachan Valley

Bronze bell found at Ban Pong Manao, Lopburi province, Central Thailand

Bronze bell found at Ban Kan Luang, Ubonrachathani province, Northeast Thailand

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2. Iron Metallurgy

Archaeological Excavation at the Ancient Iron Smelting Site Archaeological Excavation at the Ancient Iron Smelting Site of Ban of Ban KhaoKhao Din Tai, Ban Din Tai, Ban KraudKraud District, District, BurirumBurirum ProvinceProvince

Geophysical Survey at the Ancient Iron Smelting Site of Ban Kao Geophysical Survey at the Ancient Iron Smelting Site of Ban Kao Din Tai Din Tai Two small areas of the ancient iron smelting site of Ban Khao Din Tai were excavated.

These were labeled as the Excavation Trench 1 and 2.

Excavation Trench 1

Excavation Trench 2

Archaeological excavations conducted by the “Living Ankor Road Project” at the ancient iron smelting site of Ban Khao Din Tai comprise 2 campaigns ; the first was conducted during 1 – 31, May, 2007, the second was conducted during 22, February –22 March, 2008.

Archaeological Evidence Discovered in the Excavation Trench 1

1. Remains of iron smelting furnaces

2. Deposits of iron smelting debris

3. Fragments of pottery

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Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1 Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

TuyTuyèèrere

Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1 Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

Trace of Furnace WallTrace of Furnace Wall

Trace of Furnace WallTrace of Furnace Wall

Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1 Fragments of Furnace Shaft

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Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

Probable characteristic of iron smelting furnace at Ban Khao Din Tai

Furnace WallFurnace Wall

TuyTuyèèrere

Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

Furnace # 4Furnace # 4

Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

Furnace RemainsFurnace Remains

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Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1 Remains of iron smelting furnace found in the Excavation Trench 1

Deposits of Iron Smelting Debris in the Excavation Trench 1

Archaeological Excavation in the Excavation Trench 2

Archaeological Evidence Discovered in the Excavation Trench 21. Deposits of iron smelting debris

2. Fragments of pottery

Iron Smelting Slag Deposits in the Excavation Trench 2

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Excavation Trench 1

Excavation Trench 2Slag

Dumping Area

Main Iron

Smelting Area

Iron smelting and forging furnaces found in the excavation at Ban Sai to Jed, Ban Kruad District, Burirum Province, Northeast Thailand

Distribution of Iron Smelting Sites in Ban Kruad Area

Location of Iron Smelting Sites and Ceramic Kilns in Ban Kruad Area, Burirum Province, Northeast Thailand

Iron Smelting Site Ceramic Kiln

Analyzing Of Topography Of Ancient Industry SitesUsing Remote Sensing / GIS From SRTM Data

(Performed by Col. Assoc. Prof. Dr.Surat Lertlum)

Iron Smelting Site Ceramic Kiln

Analyzing Of Mineral Resource Using Calculated Geological Index (channel 4/ channel 5) from ASTER Satellite Image

(Performed by Col. Assoc. Prof. Dr.Surat Lertlum)

Remark: Lighter green color means higher concentration of laterite deposits

Iron Smelting Site Ceramic Kiln

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1. The iron smelting sites in the Ban Kruad area were grouped in various pattern depend on an environmental factors on the ancient flood plain.

2. The ancient or near present iron mine was not found in Ban Kruad area. But the area contains high concentration of laterite deposit.

3. The iron smelting sites and ceramic kiln sites were located within the vicinity and were co-exist together probably because of natural resource in the area.

Remarks on the Distribution of Iron Smelting Sites in Ban Kruad Area

3. Lead Metallurgy

Distributuion of lead and zinc ore resources in Thong Pha PhumDistrict, KanchanaburiProvince, West-Central Thailand

• 20 ore sources occurred in association with OrdovichianLimestone Formation• 2 ore resources occurred in association with Jurassic limestone formation•3 ore sources occurred in association with granite formation

There are 25 lead –zinc resources

Bo Ngam Mine, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, West-Central Thailand

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1,000

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SDC

Traces of ancient lead mining and smelting were found at this mine.

Remains of ancient mining gallery, mining ventilation shaft, bottom part of a lead smelting furnace, litharge (redddish lead oxide derived from lead smelting) and ingot mould found at Bo Ngam lead mine. Map showing the distribution of all types of archaeometallurgy site

from the East to West borders of Thailand and regional clusters

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Map showing the distribution of all types of archaeometallurgy site from the East to West borders of Thailand and correlation of certain sites