Excavations at Non Pa Kluay, Northeast Thailand 9780860546580, 9781407348094

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Excavations at Non Pa Kluay, Northeast Thailand

Richard N. Wilen

BAR International Series 517

1989

B.A.R. 5, Centremead, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 ODQ, England.

GENERAL EDITORS A.R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D.Phil. D.R. Walker, M.A.

BAR -6517, 1989: 'Excavations at Ion Pa Kluay, Iortheast Thailand' @ Richard I. Wilen, 1989

The author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. ISBN 9780860546580 paperback ISBN 9781407348094 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860546580 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

L IST OF TABLES L IST OF F IGURES

i i i v

ACKNO WLEDGE MENTS

v i

PREFACE

v i i

CHAPTER 1 :I NTRODUCT ION

1

Re search i n t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in

3

CHAPTER 2 : THE ENV IRON MENT OF NON PA KLUAY T he P hy s ica l Geog raphy o f Non P a K luay T he C l ima te o ft he Huay S a i K hao B a s in B iogeog raphy o f t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in CHAPTER 3 : PREV IOUS ARCHAEOLOG ICAL RESEARCH I N THE NA M PHONG WATERSHED AND CULTURE H ISTORY OF THE KHORAT PLATEAU P IED MONT ZONE

7 7 1 4 1 4

1 7

A rchaeo log ica l R e sea rch i n t h e N am P hong Wa te r shed C u l ture H i s tory o f t h e N am P hong P iedmon t Z one

1 7 2 4

P re -Neo l i th ic Ma te r ia l T rad i t ion s o n t h e K hora t P la teau

2 7

CHAPTER 4 : EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY S t ra t ig raphy S t ra t ig raph ic F ea ture s

2 9 2 9 3 5

CHAPTER 5 : MATER IAL CULTURE AT NON PA KLUAY

3 7

B ronze A r t if ac t s I r on A r t if ac t s

3 7 4 2

G la s s B ead s

4 7

S tone A r t i f ac t s B aked C lay A r t i f ac t s

4 8 5 3

S he l l A r t i f ac t s

5 6

B one A r t i f ac t s

5 8

CHAPTER 6 : CERA M ICS AT NON PA KLUAY

5 9

Me thodo logy C e ram ic T rad i t ion s a t Non P a K luay

5 9 7 1

S ummary

9 5

CHAPTER 7 : MORTUARY ACT IV ITY AT NON PA KLUAY C a ta log o f B ur ia l s a nd R e la ted F ea ture s S ummary o f Mo r tuary A c t iv i ty

9 7 9 7 1 24

CHAPTER 8 : CHRONOLOGY AND CULTURE H ISTORY AT NON PA KLUAY 1 29 R ad iocarbon D a te s

1 29

S i te C h rono log y

1 31

I n te rpre ta t ion o f S i te U se a nd C u l tu re H i s tory

1 32

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 9 : NON PA KLUAY , NON NON THA , AND BEYOND : CHRONOLOGY OF MATER IAL CULTURE I N THE NA M PHONG BAS IN C h rono logy a nd C e ram ic T rad i t ion s i n G ene ra l P e r iod B C h rono log y a nd C e ram ic T rad i t ion s i n G ene ra l P e r iod C

1 35 1 3 5 1 4 1

CHAPTER 1 0 : CONCLUS IONS AND CO MMENTS

1 5 1

APPEND IX A : ADD IT IONAL DATA ON D ISTR IBUT ION OF POT -SHERDS AT NON PA KLUAY 1 57 APPEND IX B : I NVENTORY OF EXCAVATED VESSELS FRO M NON PA KLUAY

1 81

APPEND IX C : I LLUSTRAT ION OF DECORATED POT -SHERDS FRO M NON PA KLUAY

2 01

REFERENCES C ITED

2 19

1

L IST OF TABLES

TABLE

PAGE

1 T he R e la t ion sh ip B e tween S o i l s a nd L and fo rm s i n t h e Huay S a i K hao B a s in

1 2

2

T he D i s tr ibu t ion o f E xcava ted A r t if ac t s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

3 8

3

T he D i s tr ibu t ion o f E xcava ted P o t -She rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

6 0

4

C a tegor ica l a nd Me tr ica l A t t r ibu te s Recorded f o r Non P a K luay C e ram ic s ..

6 1

5

V a r iab le S ta te s R ecorded f o r C e ram ic A t t r ibu te s

6 6

6

R im F orm T ypo logy f o r Non P a K luay C e ram ic s

6 8

7

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I mpre s sed F in i sh Among A l l B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

7 2

8

D i s t r ibu t ion o f P a s te T ype s Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

7 3

9

D i s t r ibu t ion o f P a s te T ype s Among Deco ra ted B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

7 4

D i s t r ibu t ion o f P o l i shed , P a in ted a nd S l ip F in i she s Among A l l B ody S he rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

7 6

1

D i s tr ibu t ion o f R im T ype s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

7 8

1 2

D i s tr ibu t ion o f P o l i shed , P a in ted a nd S l ip F in i she s Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

8 6

1 0

1 3

S ummary o f t h e P roven ience a nd C harac te r i s t ic s o f Human S ke le ta l Rema in s E xcava ted a t Non P a K luay

1 02

1 4

D i s t r ibu t ion o f Non P a K luay B u r ia l s b y Age a nd S ex

1 25

1 5

R ad iocarbon D a te s F rom Non P a K luay

1 30

1 6

C h rono log ica l D i s t r ibu t ion o f Non Nok T ha Ve s se l T ype s F ound a t Non P a K luay

1 39

1 7

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I mpre s sed F in i sh Among Decora ted B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 58

1 8

D i s t r ibu t ion o f P o l i shed , P a in ted a nd S l ip F in i she s Among Decora ted B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 59

1 9

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I nc i sed F in i sh Among Deco ra ted B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 61

2 0

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I n te r ior F in i sh Among Decora ted B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay 1 62

2 1

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I nc i sed F in i sh V e r su s P o l i shed , P a in ted a nd S l ip F in i she s Among Decora ted B ody -She rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

2 2

D i s tr ibu t ion o f I mp re s sed F in i sh Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 64

2 3

D i s tr ibu t ion o f P o l i shed , P a in ted a nd S l ip F in i she s Among Decora ted R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 65

2 4

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I nc i sed F in i sh Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 66

2 5

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I n te r ior F in i sh Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 67

2 6

D i s tr ibu t ion o f R im T ype s V e r su s P a s te T ype s Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 68

2 7

D i s t r ibu t ion o f R im T ype s V e r su s P o l i shed , P a in ted , a nd S l ip F in i she s Among R im -She rd s a t Non P a K luay b y L oca l i ty

1 72

2 8

D i s t r ibu t ion o f P a s te T ype s Among Neck -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 76

2 9

D i s t r ibu t ion o f I mpre s sed F in i sh Among N eck -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 77

3 0

D i s tr ibu t ion o f P o l i shed , P a in ted a nd S l ip F in i she s Among N eck -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 78

3 1

D i s tr ibu t ion o f I n te r io r F in i sh Among N eck -She rd s a t Non P a K luay

1 80

1 1

...1 63

L IST OF F IGURES

F IGURE

PAGE

1

T he L oca t ion o f t h e N am P hong V a l ley

2

T he N am P hong Wa te r shed

v i i i

3

T he Huay S a l K hao B a s in

4

4

T yp ica l L and form s o f t h e K ho ra t P la teau

8

2

5

D i s t r ibu t ion o f L and fo rm s i n t h e Huay S a l K hao B a s in

1 0

6

D i s t r ibu t ion o f R ice S o i l s i nt h e Huay S a i K hao B a s in

1

7 8

E nv i ronmen t i nt h e V ic in i ty o f N on P a K luay R ad ioca rbon D a te s F rom t h e N am P hong Wa te r shed

1 3 2 0

9

C h rono log ica l F ramewo rk f o r Ma te r ia l T rad i t ion s o f t h e K ho ra t P la teau

2 6

1 0

N on P a K luay a nd A rea E x cava ted

3 0

1 1 2

S t ra t ig raph ic P ro f i le s o fE x cava t ion s a t Non P a K luay D i s t r ibu t ion o fA r t i f ac t s a tN on P a K luay : T o ta l N umbe r o fA r t i f ac t s , N umbe r a nd We igh t o f B ronze a nd I r on A r t i f ac t s

3 1

1 3

D i s t r ibu t ion o fA r t i f ac t s a tN on P a K luay : G la s s B ead s , B ronze a nd I r on A r t i f ac t s

4 0

1 4

B ronze A r t i f ac t s f r om N on P a K luay

4 1

1 5

I r on A r t i f ac t s f r om N on P a K luay

4 4

1 6

I r on A r t i f ac t s f r om N on P a K luay

4 5 4 6

3 9

1 7

I r on A r t i f ac t s f r om N on P a K luay

1 8

D i s t r ibu t ion o fA r t i f ac t s a tN on P a K luay : S tone , S p ind le Who r l s , C lay P e l le t s , S he l l a nd M i sce l laneou s C lay

4 9

1 9

S tone A r t i f ac t s f r om Non P a K luay

5 0

2 0 2 1

S tone Mo ld s F rom N on P a K luay S p ind le Who r l s f r om N on P a K luay

5 2 5 4

2 2

B aked C lay A r t i f ac t s f r om N on P a K luay

5

2 3

S he l l a nd B ond A r t i f ac t s f r om N on P a K luay

5 7

2 4

R im F o rm s a tN on P a K luay

6 3

2 5

V e s se l T ype s a tN on P a K luay

6 5

2 6

F o rm f o r R eco rd ing C e ram ic D a ta

7 0

2 7

R ed -S l ipped C la s s 4a nd 5V e s se l s f r om Non P a K luay

8 2

2 8

R ed -S l ipped C la s s 5V e s se l w i th I n te r io r P a in ted w i th Red De s ign

8 3

2 9

R ed -S l ipped a nd C o rd - Marked C la s s 1V e s se l s F rom Non P a K luay

8 4

3 0

R ed -S l ipped C la s s 6V e s se l s f r om N on P a K luay

8 5

3 1 3 2

C la s s 1V e s se l s w i th A pp l ique D eco ra t ion B lack -on -Bu f f Ware s f r om N on P a K luay

8 9 9 0

3 3 4

R ed -on -B lack Wa re s f r om N on P a K luay P l an V iew o f B ur ia l s i nL eve l I V a tL oca l i ty 1

9 3 9 8

3 5

P l an V iew o f B ur ia l s i nL eve l Va tL oca l i ty 1

9 9

3 6

P l an V iew o f B u r ia l s i nL eve l I V a tL oca l i ty 2

1 00

3 7

P l an V iew o f B ur ia l s i nL eve l Va tL oca l i ty 2

1 01

3 8

B ur ia l N o . 1 4

1 05

3 9

B u r ia l s N o . 9a nd N o . 1

1 06

4 0

B ur ia l N o . 3

1 08

i v

L IST OF F IGURES

F IGURE

PAGE

4 1

B ur ia l No . 1

10

4 2

B ur ia l No . 2

11

4 3

B ur ia l No . 1 5

13

4 4

B u r ia l No . 5

15

4 5

B ur ia l No . 4

16

4 6

B ur ia l No . 7

18

4 7

B u r ia l No . 8

1 20

4 8

B ur ia l No . 1 3

1 22

4 9

B ur ia l No . 1 2

1 23

5 0

Non Nok T ha V e s se l T ypo logy

1 36

5 1

R ed -on -B lack a nd B lack -on -Buf f Wa re s f r om Non B an R ang ( NP -14 )

1 44

5 2

R ed -on -B lack Ware s f r om Don T ha t ( NP -17 ) a nd B an S an J od ( NP -15 )

5 3

B lack -on -Buf f V e s se l f r om Don K lang

... 1 46 1 48

5 4

I mp re s sed Ware s f r om K hok B ak Hoom ( NP -30 ) a nd Non Huay L ua ( NP -31 )

1 50

5 5

L arge C las s 1V e s se l s : NPK -492 , NPK -438 , NPK -554

1 91

5 6

L arge C la s s 1V e s se l s : NPK -632 , NPK -615 , NPK -625

1 92

5 7

L arge C la s s 1V e s se l s : NPK -648 , NPK -647

1 93

5 8

Sma l l C la s s 1V e s se l s : NPK -566 , NPK -620 , NPK -533 , NPK -586 , NPK -642 , NPK -514 , NPK -590 , NPK -592

1 94

5 9

C la s s 5 Ve s se l s : NPK -150 , NPK -531 , NPK -619 , NPK -457

1 95

6 0

C la s s 6V e s se l s : P o t -She rd s , NPK -638 , NPK -613 , NPK -637 , NPK -614

1 96

6 1

M i sce l laneou s V e s se l s : NPK -633 , NPK -162 , NPK -643 , NPK -636 , NPK -75

6 2

M i sce l laneou s V e s se l s : NPK -634 , NPK -589 , NPK -622 , NPK -627 , NPK -626 , NPK -623 , NPK -616

... 1 97 1 98

6 3

M i sce l laneou s V e s se l s : NPK -515 , NPK -646 , NPK -585

1 99

6 4

C e ram ic Ob jec t o f Unknown F unc t ion : NPK -654 -8

2 00

6 5

B lack -on -Buf f P o t -She rd s

2 02

6 6

B lack -on -Red D ecora ted P o t -She rd s

2 10

6 7

R ed -on -B lack D ecora ted P o t -She rd s

2 12

6 8

R ed -on -Buf f D eco ra ted P o t -She rd s

2 14

6 9

P o t -She rd s w i th App l ique D eco ra t ion

2 15

7 0

M i sce l laneou s P a in ted , App l iqued , I n c i sed , a nd I mp re s sed P o t -She rd s

2 16

7 1

B ase a nd R ing -Foo t P o t -She rd s

2 17

ACKNO WLEDGE MENTS T he r e search c onduc ted f o r t h i sp ro jec tw a s made p o s s ib le b y t he s t af fo ft he A rchaeo log y D iv i s ion o f t he F ine A r t s Depar tmen t o f t h e Roya l T ha i Gove rnmen t . S pec ia l t h ank s a re e x tended t o P i s i t C ha roenwong sa , S taporn K hwanyuen , S u rapo l N a tap in tu a nd t he s t a f f o f t he F .A .D . Nor thea s t T ha i land A rchaeo log ica l P ro jec t . T he r e search w a s s uppo r ted i n p ar t b y G ran t BNS -8407244 f r om t he N a t iona l S c ience F ounda t ion .

T he ir p ar t ic ipa t ion i sd eep ly a pprec ia ted .

Iam d eep ly i ndeb ted t o t h e p eop le o f t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in . T he i r h o sp i ta l i ty , a nd w a rm th c a r r ied me t h rough t h i s p ro jec t . T he v i l lage r s o fB an N a J an , p a r t icu lar ly t h e f am i ly o f K amnan T hanongkh S aengchar t , h ave e arned a s pec ia l p lace i n my h ear t . T he c rew o f t he N am P hong A rchaeo log ica l P ro jec t d e serve much c red i t f o r t h e i r h ard w ork . S pec ia l t h ank sg o t oS aeng S r i su thau a nd P han i taa P an th ian ,w ho se d ed ica t ion a nd s k i l l c on tr ibu ted much t o t he w ork a nd w ho se f r iend sh ip made t he h ard sh ip s w or th i ta l l . T he a r t if ac t i lu s t ra t ion s w e re d rawn b y S a th ian Wanna saan a nd T haw i i sak S omca i . B u r ia l i lu s t ra t ion s w e re r ed rawn f r om t he a u thor ' s f i e ld s ke tche s b y S tephen B o swe l l . T he s i te map w a s p repared b y J ohn G raham . A l l o the r f i gu re s a nd map s w e re p roduced b y t he a u tho r . S pec ia l t h ank s a re e x tended t o D r . E ve re t W inge r t o f t he Un ive r s i ty o f Hawa i i C ar tog raphy L abora to ry f o r p roduc t ion a s s i s tance a nd a cce s s t o f a c i l i t ie s . S pec ia l t h ank s a re a l so e x tended t o D r . Donn B ayard o f t he Un ive r s i ty o f O tago f o r g ene rou s ly s har ing t he r e su l t s o f h i s w ork a nd p rov id ing a dv ice a nd s uppor t t h roughou t t he d eve lopmen t a nd e xecu t ion o f t h i s p ro jec t . None o ft h i s c ou ld h ave b een p o s s ib le w i thou t t he o ngo ing s uppo r t o f my f am i ly . T he i r g ene rou s i ty i sd eep ly a pprec ia ted . Word s c anno t e ve r a dequa te ly e xpre s s my t hank s . T h i s w ork i sd ed ica ted t o my f r iend B uzzz .

v i

He i sg one , b u t n o t f o rgo t ten .

PREFACE

A s ma l l , l ow mound l o ca ted i n t h e p iedmon t z one o f n o r thea s te rn T ha i land ' s K ho ra t P la teau , N on P a K luay w a s t h es i te o fp reh i s to r ic mor tua ry a nd r e s iden t ia l a c t iv i ty f r om c i rca 2 , 000 BC t o c i rca 2 00 AD . E xcava ted i n 1 984 a nd 1 985 a s p a r t o f t h e N am P hong A rchaeo log ica l P ro jec t , t h e s i te h a s p roduced a w e l l s t ra t if ied c o l lec t ion o f a r t i f ac t s r ep re sen t ing b o th t h e B ronze a nd t h e I r on P e r iod s o f t h e K ho ra t P la teau p iedmon t . Many o ft h ea r t i f ac t s f r om t h es i te ' s B ronze P e r iod a re i d en t ica l t ot h o se f ound a tt h e Non N ok T ha s i te s ome 5 km t o t h e n o r thea s t . T h i s v o lume r e v iew s t h e e x cava t ion s c onduc ted a tt h e s i te a nd p rov ide s ac omp rehen s ive c a ta log o f t h e s i te ' s a r t i f ac t a s semb lage . He re in t h e ma te r ia l i sc ompa red t o t h e e x i s t ing c u l tu re h i s to ry o ft h ep iedmon t r eg ion a nd a n a t temp t i s made t od eve lop t h e f i r s t s ub s tan t ia l r eg iona l c on tex t f o r t h e c on t rove r s ia l N on Nok T ha s i te a nd i t s p u ta t ive e v idence o f e a r ly a g r icu l tu ra l a c t iv i ty .

v i i

EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY

F IGURE 1 . T he L oca t ion o f t h e N am P hong Wa te r shed

CHAPTER

1

I NTRODUCT ION

S t ra teg ica l ly l o ca ted b e tween t h e a bundan t r e source s o ft he u p land f o re s t s a nd t he f e r t i le s o i l s o ft he p la in s , t he p iedmon t z one o fT ha i land ' s K hora t P la teau h a s l ong b een s ugge s ted a sa n a rea w h ich t ook p ar ti nt he i nd igenou s d eve lopmen t o fa g r icu l tu re a nd c omp lex s oc ie t ie s ( e .g . B ayard 1 971a , 1 980a ; Gorman 1 977 ; H igham 1 972 , 1 977b , 1 979 ) .

Much o f t h i s

s pecu la t ion w a s s t imu la ted b y t he p receden t s e t t ing f i nd s made i nt he 1 960 ' s a tt h e Non Nok T ha s i te , f i nd s w h ich p rov ided e v idence f o r e a r ly d eve lopmen t s i n a g r icu l tu re , b ronze t e chno log y , r eg iona l t r ade , a nd s oc ia l c omp lex i ty ( F igure 1 ) ( Bayard 1 971a ,b , 1 979 , 1 980a ,b , 1 984b ; H igham 1 975a , 1 977b , 1 979 ; H igham a nd L each 1 971 ) . A s t he f i r s t ma jor e xcava t ion i n t he K hora t P la teau r eg ion , Non Nok T ha h a s p layed a ma jor r o le i nt he r econ s truc t ion a nd i n te rpre ta t ion o fS ou thea s t A s ian p reh i s to ry . Howeve r , t he i n terpre ta t ion o f t he s i te ' s h i s tory a nd i t s r e la t ion sh ip t o d eve lopmen t s i n t he r eg ion h a s b een t he s ub jec t o f much d eba te .

T he s i te ' s c h rono logy h a s b een a p ar t icu la r ly c on ten t iou s

i s sue ( H igham 1 979 , 1 983 , 1 984 ; B ayard 1 971 , 1 977a ,b , 1 979 ,

1 9S3 , 1 984a ; S o lhe im

1 972 ; R eed 1 977 ; G love r 1 979 :175 -76 ; R . Sm i th 1 979 ; S p r igg s 1 988 ) . F o l low ing t he e x ten s ive e xcava t ion s a t Non Nok T ha , s eve ra l s ma l l s urvey s a nd t e s t e xcava t ion s w e re c onduc ted i n t he P hu W iang r eg ion s ou th o f Non Nok T ha ( H igham a nd P arke r 1 971 ; B ayard 1 977 ) , i n t he P hu K ao r eg ion t o t h e n or th ( Schauf f le r 1 976 ) a nd i n t h e f oo th i l l s o f t h e P he tchabun Moun ta in s t o t h e w e s t ( Penny 1 982 , 1 984 ) . Howeve r , t he se e xp lora tory e f for t s w e re n o t p a r t icu lar ly p rod tr t ive a nd mo s t h ave r ece ived o n ly l im i ted p ub l ica t ion ( c f . B aya rd 1 977 ) . When t he N am P hong A rchaeo log ica l P ro jec tw a sb egun i n1 982 , t he r ecord o fp reh i s tor ic c u l tu re h i s tory i n t he p iedmon t z one w a s v e ry l im i ted . T he re w a s s t i l l n o a r t i f ac tua l a s semb lage w h ich p rov ided e x ten s ive c o r robora t ion f o rt he Non Nok T ha ma te r ia lc u l tu re a nd c h rono logy , a nd v i r tua l ly n o r eg iona l c on tex t f o r t h e c l a im s o fe a r ly a g r icu l tura l a c t iv i ty a tt h e s i te . A t t he v e ry mo s tw e h ad o n ly t h eb r ie f e s t o u t l ine o ft he h i s tory o fs oc ie ty a nd a g r icu l ture i n t he r eg ion .

We s t i l l l a cked s y s tema t ic i n fo rma t io i,o n h ow S ou theas t A s ian p lan t s a nd

a n ima l s b ecame d ome s t ica ted , a nd p e rhap s e ven mo re i mpo r tan t ly , w e h ad l i t t le c l ue a s t o w hy p reh i s tor ic s oc ie t ie s i n t he r eg ion d eve loped a n a g r icu l tura l e conomy . T h i s l a ck o fp rog re s s w a s d ue i np a r t t o t h e f r agmen tary n a ture o f t he d a ta p roduced b y s ome 2 5 y ea r s o fe xp lo ra tory r e search . S i te s w e re t oo s c i -u. red , a nd ma te r ia l r ema in s w e re s o l im i ted a nd i l r epor ted , t h a t i tw a s n o t p o s s ib le t o e s ta l sh s t rong l i nk . ; b e tween s i te s . T h i s g rea t ly h ampe red t h er econ s t ruc t ion o fp iedmon t s oc ie t ' _: s a nd made i ta lmo s t i mpo s s ib le t o e s tab l i sh a r eg iona l c h rono log y f o r t h e p iedmon t z one . I tw a s a pparen t i n 1 982 t h a t i no rde r t ob u i ld o n t he s t imu la t ing f i nd s m ade a t Non Nok T ha i tw ou ld b en ece s sary t ot ake r e search i nt h ep iedmon t z one b eyond t he e xp lora tory p ha se t oward s a more s y s tema t ic p rog ram . T he N am P hong A rchaeo log ica l P ro jec t w a s e s tab l i shed w i th a p r imary g oa l o f p u t t ing t he ma te r ia l c u l ture f ound a t Non Nok T ha a nd o the r p iedmon t s i te s more f i rm ly w i th in a c on tex t o fb o th r eg iona l s oc ie ty a nd e nv i ronmen t .

He re in , t he P ro jec t s eek s t o r econ s truc t

b o th t he s oc ia l n e two rk f o rmed b y p reh i s tor ic s i te s i n t he p iedmon t z one a nd t o d e f ine t h e p hy s ica l e nv i ronmen t w i th in wh ich t he se s i te s w e re i n te rac t ing . T he P ro jec t ' s o b jec t ive i s t o d eve lop a h i s tor ica l c on tex t f o r t he e vo lu t ion o f f ood p roduc t ion a nd s oc ia l c omp lex i ty , ac on tex t t h a t r ef lec t s t he s pec i f ic e ven t s a nd f o rce s t h a t s haped t he s oc io -econom ic e vo lu t ion o fp reh i s tor ic s oc ie t ie s i nt he p iedmon tz one . I ti sh oped t h a t s uch ac on tex tua l a pproach w i l l h e lp u s t on o t o n ly d ocumen t t he r i se o fa g r icu l tu re a nd

1

EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY

F IGURE 2 . T he N am P hong Wa te r shed

2

R . N . WILEN

c omp lex s oc ie t ie s i n t h e r eg ion , b u t t o a l so e xp la in why t h e se e ven t s t ook p lace ( c .f . B u tzer 1 980 , 1 982 ) . Deve lop ing s uch ac on tex t r equ i re s ac omm i tmen t t oi n ten s ive , l ong te rm r e search w h ich i so r ien ted b y d e s ign t oward s t he i n ve s t iga t ion o f ac omp lex o fs i te s , r a the r t h an j u s t as i ng le s i te . T he N am P hong A rchaeo log ica l P ro jec t w a s b egun i n 1 982 w i th t he i d ea t h a t w ew ou ld a t temp t t ol o ca te a nd t e s t a l l t he s i te s w i th in ad e l im i ted e nv ironmen t i n t he p iedmon t z one . We w ou ld a l so a t temp t t o r econ s t ruc t t he c ha rac te r i s t ic s o f t he r e sou rce h ab i ta t t h a t t he se s i te s h ad t od raw o n . I tw a s c once ived o fa s amu l t i -d i sc ip l ina ry p ro jec t , o ne t ha tw ou ld mo s t l i ke ly b e u nde rway f o r a tl e a s t t en y ear s a nd e n ta i l f ou r o r f i ve y ea r s o f f i e ld r e search . T he e xcava t ion s a t Non P a K luay a re t hu s o n ly a s ma l l p ar t o f a much l a rge r r e search d e s ign . A f te r p re l im ina ry s t udy o f t h e N am P hong w a te r shed , aw e l l b ounded h ab i ta t k nown a s t h e Huay S a i K hao B a s in w a s s e lec ted f o r t h e s t udy ( F igure 2 ) . L oca ted j u s t u p t he N am P hong f r om Non Nok T ha , t h i s t r ibu ta ry b a s in f o rm s ad e l im i ted e nv i ronmen ta l u n i t w h ich p rov ide s an a tura l l a bora tory f o r o ur c on tex tua l a pproach .

RESEARCH I N THE HUAY SA I ' CHAO BAS IN

I n t he f i r s t s t age o f r e sea rch i n t he Huay S a i Khao B a s in , w h ich l a s ted f r om 1 982 u n t i l 1 987 , t h e P ro jec t u nde r took t h ree ma in t a sk s : d e sc r ip t ion o f t he mode rn e nv ironmen t i n t he r eg ion , d e l inea t ion o f t h e d i s t r ibu t ion o fp reh i s tor ic s i te s i n t he b a s in , a nd d eve lopmen t o f a d e sc r ip t ion a nd c h rono logy o f t he b a s in ' s p reh i s tor ic ma te r ia l c u l tu re . F ie ldwo rk i n t h i s s t age o f t h e r e sea rch c on s i s ted o f s ur f ace s urvey s a nd e xcava t ion s c onduc ted i n t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in d ur ing 1 984 a nd 1 985 . A l though l im i ted i n s cope , t h i s r e search h a s g rea t ly e xpanded t h ea rchaeo log ica l c on tex t f o r t h e Non Nok T ha a s semb lage a nd h a s a l lowed o lde r d a ta t o b e s een i n an ew l i gh t (W i len 1 987a ,b ) . T he e xcava t ion s a t Non P a K luay r evea led t h a t t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in h ad b een i nhab i ted b y p reh i s tor ic p opu la t ion s f r om a round 2 , 000 BC u n t i l a bou t 2 00 AD . U l t ima te ly , at o ta l o f2 5 p reh i s to r ic s i te s w e re i d en t if ied i n t h e b a s in ( F igure 3 ) . T he Non P a K luay s i te w a s l o ca ted b y t he a u thor a nd Mr . S t aporn K hwanyuen o f t he F ine A r t s Depar tmen t o n Novembe r 2 8 , 1 984 d u r ing a s urvey o f T ambon N a C han i n Amphoe S r i C homphu o fK hon K aen P rov ince . L oca l r e s iden t s r epor ted e ncoun te r ing many h uman b u r ia l s i nt h e mound a nd d i sp layed aw ide v ar ie ty o fa r t if ac t s c o l lec ted f r om t he s i te . T he se i n c luded s eve ra l s t one mo ld so fa xehead s , ab ronze s pearhead ,s eve ra l b ronze b race le t s , many s ma l l b lue g l a s s b ead s , i r on t oo l s , s he l l b race le t s , s eve ra l w ho le -,r 9r n ic v e s se ls , a nd a l a rge n umbe r o f f r agemen ta ry v e s se l s a nd p o t she rd s . P re l im inary e xam ina t ion o f t h i s ma te r ia l r evea led t h a t i tw a s c l o se ly r e la ted t o t he ma te r ia l t r ad i t ion f ound a t Non Nok T ha . T he g rea t s im i lar i ty b e tween t he r ema in s w a s v e ry e xc i t ing b ecau se t h e s i te s a re l o ca ted s ome 5 5 k i lome te r s a par t a nd a re s epara ted b y t he b u lk o fP hu W iang ( F igure 3 ) . We w e re a l so i n t r igued b y t he f a c t t h a t t he s i te c on ta ined ma te r ia l f r om t he p reh i s tor ic I r on P e r iod h or izon t ha t w a s m i s s ing i n t he Non Nok T ha d epo s i t . E xcava t ion s a t t h e s i te b egan o n Decembe r 1 3 , 1 984 a nd e nded o n Apr i l 1 ,1 985 .

T he

a u thor w a s j o ined i nt h e i n i t ia l o rgan iza t ion o f t h e e xcava t ion s b y Mr . K hwanyuen , a nd Mr . S urapo l N a tap in tu f r om t he F ine A r t s Depar tmen t . a s s i s tan t d i rec to r .

3

Ms . P han i ta P an th ian p a r t ic ipa ted a s

EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY

F IGURE 3 . T he H uay S a i K hao B a s in

4

R . N . WILEN

At o ta l o f 1 5 m2 w e re e xcava ted a tt he s i te t o ad ep th o fj u s t o ve r 2me ter s . T he d epo s i t c on ta ined t h ree p reh i s tor ic h or izon s ,o ne a s soc ia ted w i th t he B ronze P e r iod a nd t wo a s soc ia ted w i th t he I r on P e r iod . T he e xcava t ion s p roduced o ve r 5 20 k g o f p o t te ry a nd p o t she rd s , 2 93 a r t i f ac t s a nd f r agmen t s o fb ronze , 1 07 o f i r on , 9 9 o fs t one , 1 4 o f s he l l , 2 77 g l a s s b ead s , 1 31 c l ay p e l le t s , 2 1 s p ind le w ho r l s , 8 5 k g o f a n ima l b one , a nd p o r t ion s o f 1 9 h uman s ke le ton s . Much o ft h i s ma te r ia l i si d en t ica l t o t h a t f ound a to the r B ronze a nd I r on P e r iod s i te s i n t he N am P hong p iedmon t z one , a nd w e h ave f ound t h a t t he w e l l s t ra t if ied ma te r ia l f r om Non P a K luay p rov ide s ag ood f ounda t ion f o r i n te r re la t ing c u l tura l ma te r ia l f r om t h roughou t t h e N am P hong r eg ion . T hu s , i tp rov ide s n o t o n ly c or robora t ion f o r t he B ronze P e r iod t r ad i t ion s o f Non Nok T ha , b u t a l so f o r t ho se a s soc ia ted w i th t he I r on P e r iod a ts i te s s uch a s Non Nong C h ik , Don K hok , a nd Don K lang . T h i s v o lume p rov ide s ac omp le te c a ta log o ft h e ma te r ia l c u l tu re r ecove red f r om Non P a K luay a nd r ev iew s t he e nv i ronmen t a nd s t ra t ig raphy o f t he s i te . I ta l so p rov ide s ac a ta log o f t h e h uman b ur ia l s e xcava ted a t t he s i te f ocu s ing o n t he ma te r ia l t r ea tmen t o f t h e d ead . P hy s io log ica ld a ta o n t he h uman s ke le ta l r ema in s a re p rov ided i n as epara te v o lume a u thored b y D r . M ichae l P ie tru sew sky o f t he Un ive r s i ty o f Hawa i i ( P ie tru sew sky 1 988 ) . Da ta o n t he a n ima l r ema in s w i l l a l so b e p re sen ted i n as epara te r epor t .

5

EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY

6

CHAPTER 2 THE ENV IRON MENT OF NON PA KLUAY

T he e nv i ronmen t s ur round ing Non P a K luay i s ad i ve r se h ab i ta t o f moun ta inou s u p land s , g en t le t e r race s , a nd r i ve r ine f l oodp la in s . A t p re sen tv e ry l i t t le i sk nown a bou t t he p reh i s tor ic e nv ironmen t o f t h i s a rea . A s ar e su l t w e mu s t b eg in o ur r econ s truc t ion o f t he g eo mo rpho log ica l a nd e co log ica l h i s to ry o f t he Huay S a i Khao a rea b y f i r s t e s tab l i sh ing t h e c u r ren t c ond i t ion o f t he l a nd scape . T he B a s in ' s e nv i ronmen t h a s , o f c our se , c hanged d rama t ica l ly o ve r t he l a s t s eve ra l t hou sand y ear s a nd w e mu s t r emembe r t h a t o ur d e sc r ip t ion o ft he modern e nv ironmen t may n o t a ccu ra te ly r ef lec t t h e c ond i t ion s f ound i np reh i s tory . C au t ion mu s t a lway s b e a pp l ied i n e x t rapo la t ing c u r ren t c ond i t ion s b ackward s i n to t he c ond i t ion s f a ced b y p reh i s tor ic s oc ie t ie s . T hu s , t he e nv i ronmen ta l c on tex t o f f e red f o r Non P a K luay a nd o the r s i te s o f t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in s hou ld b e v i ewed a s o n ly a p re l im inary a pprox ima t ion .

THE PHYS ICAL GEOGRAPHY OF NON PA I CLUAY

Non P a K luay i sl o ca ted i n T ambon N a C han o f Amphoe S r i C homphu i n K hon K aen P rov ince . T he s i te l i e s a ta pp rox ima te ly 1 7* 3 0 n o r th l a t t i tude , 1 02 * o i S e as t l ong i tude . I t s UT M c oord ina te s a re 4 80 -SD -970 -464 . A t p re sen t t h e s i te e ncompa s se s a bou t 1 . 5 h ec tare s i n ar ec tangu lar s hape t ha t c ove r s a bou t 1 00 me te r sf r om n o r th t os ou th a nd 1 30 me te r s f r om e a s t t ow e s t . Howeve r , t he mound f o rm ing t he s i te a ppear s t oh ave b een t r unca ted o n t he e a s t a nd s ou th b y a g r icu l tura l a c t iv i ty . T he d i s t r ibu t ion o fp o t she rd s s ca t te red i n t he s u r round ing f i e ld s i nd ica te s t ha t t he s i te may h ave o nce e x tended t o an earby s t ream 5 0 me te r s t o t he s ou thea s t . Non P a K luay i sl o ca ted a d jacen t t o t he Huay Y ang , at r ibu ta ry o f t he Huay S a i Khao ( F igure 3 ) . T he se s t ream sa re p ar to ft he t r ibu ta ry s y s tem o ft he N am P hong w a te r shed w h ich d ra in s t he w e s te rn p iedmon t z one o f t he K hora t P la teau i n n or thea s t T ha i land ( F igure 1 ) . O r ig ina t ing i n t he c en tra l P he tchabun moun ta in s , t he N am P hong f l ow s a c ro s s ab road p iedmon t z one o n to t he i n te r ior o f t h e P la teau t oj o in t he N am C h i i n t he v i c in i ty o f Khon K aen c i ty ( F igure 2 ) . Al ow r i dge s epara te s mo s t o ft he N am P hong b a s in f r om t he i n ter io r p l a in s , c rea t ing a g ene ra l ly w e l l b ounded w a te r shed a lmo s t who l ly c on ta ined w i th in t he p iedmon t z one . T he Huay S a i K hao B a s in i so ne o f t he f i ve ma jor t r ibu tary b a s in s o f t h e N am P hong w a te r shed . I te ncompa s se s t h e e x ten s ive d ra inage n e twork o ft he Huay S a i Khao a nd s eve ra l s ma l l t r ibu tar ie s o ft he N am P hong ( F igure 3 ) . I ti sb ounded o n t he w e s t b y r ugged o u t l ie r s o ft he P he tchabun Moun ta in s , a nd o n t he e a s t b y t he s t eep s l ope o fP hu Wiang . T o t he s ou th t he w a te r shed i ss epara ted f r om t h a t o ft h e N am C hoen b y al ow r o l l ing r i se o fm idd le t e r race g eomorpho log y . T he N am P hong a nd i t s d eep c hanne l , f l ow ing c l o se t ob o th t he moun ta in s o n t h e w e s t a nd P hu W iang o n t h e e a s t , f o rm s t h e n o r thern b oundary . T he Huay S a i K hao o r ig ina te s i n t h e f oo th i l l s o f t he P he tchabun Moun ta in s i n t h e s ou thwe s te rn p o r t ion o ft h e a rea . He re t h e s t ream ( huay i nT ha i ) i s6 0 -7 0 ma bove t he l e ve l o f t he m a in r i ve r f l a t s t o t h e e a s t .

F rom t h e f oo th i l l s t he s t ream f l ow s w e s t t o e as t a bou t

2 0 km u n t i l i tt u rn s n o r th t o f l ow t o t h e N am P hong , s ome 4 0 km a way .

7

8

8

F I G U R E 4 .

T y p i c a l L a n d f o r m s o f t h e K h o r a t P l a t e a u ( f r o m H i g h a m a n d K i j n g a m 1 9 8 0 , a f t e r M o r m a n , e t a l . 1 9 6 4 )

a l u v i u m , s a n d

S a n d s t o n e .

t r i b u t a r y s t r e a m

a l u v i u m , c l a y , o f

EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY

t n

77 .

R . N . WILEN

T he Huay S a i K hao B a s in i s at r an s i t iona l p iedmon t e nv i ronmen t w hose c harac te r i s l a rge ly d e te rm ined b y g eomorpho log ica l p roce s se s b u i ld ing a nd e rod ing t he s ur round ing moun ta in s . T he c u r ren t p hy s iog raphy o ft h e a rea i sl a rge ly t he p roduc t o fr epea ted p ha se s o f r i ve r ine d own -cu t t ing i nT e r t ia ry a l luv ia l d epo s i t s . T hu s , a s t he s t ream s o ft he B a s in d rop o u t o ft he f oo th i l l s t hey f l ow a c ro s s as e r ie s o fg en t ly u ndu la t ing t e r race s t oward as e r ie s o fs ma l l a l luv ia l f l oodp la in s . T he re a re f i ve p r inc ipa l l a nd form s f ound i n t he Huay S a i K hao B a s in a ccord ing t o t he S o i l S urvey D iv i s ion o f T ha i land : f oo t s lope /moun ta in , h igh t e r race , m idd le t e r race , l ow t e r race , a nd a l luv ia l p l a in / v a l ley f l a t ( F igure 4 ) . T he s o i l s a s soc ia ted w i th t he se l a nd fo rm s f a l l i n to t h ree g roup s b a sed o n t h e i r s u i tab i l i ty f o r p addy r i ce p roduc t ion : mode ra te ly s u i ted , p oor ly s u i ted , a nd g ene ra l ly n o t s u i ted .

D ef in i t ive d e sc r ip t ion s o f t he se l a nd form s a nd s o i l s

c an b e f ound i n Moo rman , e t a l . ( 1964 ) , C ru j i s ( 1978 ) a nd t he S o i l S u rvey D iv i s ion ' s P rov inc ia l S o i l R econna i s sance Map s . T he r e la t ion sh ip s b e tween s o i l s a nd l a nd form s a re s hown i n T ab le 1 . T he d i s tr ibu t ion o f l a nd form s i n t h e Huay S a i K hao B a s in i ss hown i n F igure 5 . T he d i s tr ibu t ion o f r i ce s o i l s i ss hown i n F igure 6 . T he se map s i nd ica te t h a t s u i tab le a g r icu l tura l r e sou rce s a re r e la t ive ly r e s tr ic ted i n t he B a s in . Howeve r , t wo ma jor a rea s o fb road l ow t e r race s a nd v a l ley f l a t s a nd g ood a g r icu l tura l s o i l s c an b e i d en t if ied . One o ccur s i n as ou the rn p la in w he re t he Huay Y ang j o in s t he S a i K hao a nd t h e o the r i n an o r the rn p la in w he re t he Huay L om F a i , Huay K hon T haa , a nd Huay L ua j o in t he Huay S a i K hao . Non P a K luay i ss i tua ted a tt he e dge o f t h e a rea o f f l oodp la in a nd v a l ley f l a t a s soc ia ted w i th t h e c onf luence o f t h e Huay S a i } C hao a nd t he Huay Y ang ( F igu re 7 ) . T he s i te i t se l f i s l o ca ted o n al ow r i se o f l ow t o m idd le t e r race l and . T h i s r emnan t o f t he m idd le t e r race s e rve s t os epara te t he Huay Y ang f r om t he Huay S a i K hao t o t he n or th . T he Non P a K luay mound r i se s a bou t 1 . 5 m a bove t he f l ood p la in a nd v a l ley f l a t t o t he s ou th a nd a bou t 1 . 0 m a bove t he s l igh t ly h ighe r g round t o t he n or th . T he s i te i sl o ca ted a d jacen t t o o ne o f t h e l a rge r c oncen t ra t ion s o f s u i tab le a g r icu l tura l s o i l s ( C la s s P I I I , P h ima i t y pe ) i nt he Huay S a iK hao w a te r shed . T h i sp ar t icu la rc oncen t ra t ion a ppear s t o h ave b een t h e l o cu s o f many s i te s d ur ing t he p reh i s tor ic p e r iod .

T oday t h i s a rea

i s c omp le te ly c u l t iva ted i n p addy f i e ld s . T he s o i l s i n t h e a rea a re c on s ide red t h e mo s t p roduc t ive b y l o ca l f a rme r s a nd a re g ene ra l ly g i ven p r imary a t ten t ion among t he ir l and h o ld ing s . T he l ow m idd le t e r race r i se u pon w h ich Non P a K luay i sl o ca ted i sc ompo sed o f l e s s p roduc t ive C la s s P IV , Ro i E t t y pe s o i l s . T he h i gh s and c on ten t o f t h e s o i l s i nt h i s a rea a nd i t s u n f avorab le t opog raphy s i gn if ican t ly l im i t s i t s a g r icu l tura l p o ten t ia l . F arme r s i nt he a rea , f a c ing a s ca rc i ty o fp roduc t ive l a nd , h ave p u t s o me o f t he se s o i l s i n to c u l t iva t ion . However , t hey a re s een t o b e s i gn if ican t ly l e s s p roduc t ive , d ue t o ar e la t ive l a ck o f mo i s ture . Away f r om t h e v i c in i ty o f Non P a K luay t oward s t h e w e s t , t he m idd le t e r race r i se i n c rea se s g radua l ly i nh e igh t a nd t h e s o i l s a re r ecorded a s C la s s P -V , K hora t t y pe w h ich a re g enera l ly n o t s u i ted f o r p addy l a nd . I n g ene ra l , t h i s a rea i sn o t c u l t iva ted . Non P a K luay i sl o ca ted a bou t 4 . 5 km f r om t he b a se o f t h e P hu W iang moun ta in a nd 1 8 -2 5 km f r om t h e l a rge r , more r ugged o u t l ie r s o f t h e P he tc l iabun Moun ta in s t o t he n or thwe s t . T he se moun ta ins a re c ompo sed l a rge ly o fs andy s i l t s tone s , s ha le s , a nd q uar tz a nd c a lce rou s s and s tone s w i th l o ca l ized d epo s i t s o f e he r ! , l i gn i te , j e t , l ime s tone a nd m ine ra l ized o re s , s uch a s t i n , i r on , l e ad , a nd ma lach i te ( C ru j i s 1 978 ) .

9

EXCAVAT IONS AT NON PA KLUAY

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