The archaeobotany of Khao Sam Kaeo and Phu Khao Thong : the agriculture of Late Prehistoric Southern Thailand
The Thai-Malay Peninsula lies at the heart of Southeast Asia. Geographically, the narrowest point is forty kilometres and forms a barrier against straightforward navigation from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and vice versa. This would have either led vessels to cabotage the southernmost part of the peninsula or portage across the peninsula to avoid circumnavigating. The peninsula made easy crossing points strategic locations commercially and politically. Early movements of people along exchange routes would have required areas for rest, ports, repair of boats and replenishment of goods. These feeder stations may have grown to become entrepĂŽts and urban centres. This study investigates the archaeobotany of two sites in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Khao Sam Kaeo (KSK) and Phu Khao Thong (PKT). KSK is located on the east whereas PKT lies on the west of the peninsula and both date to the Late Prehistoric period (ca. 400-100 BC). KSK has been identified as the earliest urban site from the Late Prehistoric period in Southeast Asia engaged in trans-Asiatic exchange networks. There is evidence of craft specialisation and material culture that links the site to India, China and the rest of Southeast Asia. PKT
Castillo, C.
The archaeobotany of Khao Sam Kaeo and Phu Khao Thong : the agriculture of Late Prehistoric Southern Thailand. The Thai-Malay Peninsula lies at the heart of Southeast Asia. Geographically, the narrowest point is forty kilometres and forms a barrier against straightforward navigation from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and vice versa. This would have either led vessels to cabotage the southernmost part of the peninsula or portage across the peninsula to avoid circumnavigating. The peninsula made easy crossing points strategic locations commercially and politically. Early movements of people along exchange routes would have required areas for rest, ports, repair of boats and replenishment of goods. These feeder stations may have grown to become entrepĂŽts and urban centres. This study investigates the archaeobotany of two sites in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Khao Sam Kaeo (KSK) and Phu Khao Thong (PKT). KSK is located on the east whereas PKT lies on the west of the peninsula and both date to the Late Prehistoric period (ca. 400-100 BC). KSK has been identified as the earliest urban site from the Late Prehistoric period in Southeast Asia engaged in trans-Asiatic exchange networks. There is evidence of craft specialisation and material culture that links the site to India, China and the rest of Southeast Asia. PKT
archaeobotany agriculture late_prehistoric southern thailand thai malay peninsula lie heart southeast_asia geographically narrow point forty form barrier straightforward navigation indian ocean south china sea vice_versa would either lead vessel part peninsula across peninsula avoid peninsula make easy cross point strategic location commercially politically early movement people along exchange route would require area rest port repair boat good station may grow become urban_centre study_investigate archaeobotany two_site thai malay peninsula locate east whereas lie west peninsula date_late prehistoric_period identify early urban_site late_prehistoric period southeast_asia engage trans exchange_network evidence craft_specialisation material_culture link site india_china rest southeast_asia