Wilhelm G. Solheim

Early Bronze in Northeastern Thailand

The Fine Arts Department of Thailand-University of Hawaii Archaeological Salvage Program in Northeastern Thailand began exploration for archaeological remains in late 1963 (Solheim and Gorman 1966). During the last weeks exploration of the first seasons work three sites were found at the western edge of what is now the Nam Phong (Ubonrat) Reservoir. Cord-marked potsherds were found on the surface, and. in Thailand cordmarked pottery had been considered as neolithic in date. The rains were starting and there was no time to make any test excavations in the site. Test excavations were made at these three sites during the second season of the expedition and each site proved to be rich with both historic and prehistoric levels. Test pits from one of these sites near the viilage of Ban Nadi, Amphoe Phu Wiang, contained apparent cremations in upper levels, extended burials in lower levels and fragments of bronze from the lower levels. In one pit a sandstone two face mold for casting a bronze axe was found from a deep level (Plate Ia). It was decided that a major excavation would be made at this site, locally known as Non Nok Tha, during the third field season of the expedition.

The Balance of Trade in Southwestern Asia in the Mid-Third Millennium B.C. [and Comments and Reply]

Trade frequently is considered an important and distinct subsystem that is integrated within a prehistoric cultural system. This paper rejects this interpretation and attempts a structural analysis of a specific trading network that existed in southwestern Asia in the mid-3d millennium B.C. in order to uncover the motivational factors and contradictions operative in trading relationships. An ideal dichotomy between sparsely populated, resource-rich highland centers and densely settled lowland cities is proposed, and the evolutionary significance of the relationship that developed between these areas is discussed.

TAIWAN, COASTAL SOUTH CHINA AND NORTHERN VIET NAM AND THE NUSANTAO MARITIME TRADING NETWORK

The primary concern of this essay is to present details of the development of the Nusantao Maritime Trading Network between Taiwan, coastal South China and Northern Viet Nam from a bit before 7,000 B.P. until about 2,000 B.P. The Nusantao Maritime Trading Network is seen as a very widespread trading and communication network which came to cover all of the Pacific Ocean, the coastal areas of the China Sea and Japan, the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean as far as Madagascar, and Island Southeast Asia and the coastal area of Mainland Southeast Asia. Having begun in eastern Island Southeast Asia a few hundred years before 5000 B.C., it expanded from there to the north through the Philippines to Taiwan and coastal South China and then north along the coast of China to western and southern Korea and finally to Kyushu in Japan, starting here just before 3000 B.C., but becoming best developed in Korea and Japan during the first millennium B.C.

The Development of Metallurgy in Southeast Asia: Another Reply to Loofs-Wissowa

Considering the importance of the early dates for bronze working technology in Southeast Asia that several of us have been presenting in preliminary reports over the last fifteen years, it is somewhat surprising that there have not been more critical articles published concerning our evidence and interpretation thereof. The primary reason for this is no doubt because final reports of the pertinent sites presenting the relevant data in context have not yet appeared. The great majority of the interested archaeologists are simply awaiting the final site reports before they decide whether our interpretation is reasonable. We are sorry for the great delay in completing the final reports. Speaking of Non Nok Tha, the first site from which excavated data produced early dates for bronze working,1 the descriptive portion of the research has been completed, the analysis of the data has almost been completed (primarily by Donn Bayard), and it is hoped that the first volume of a two volume final report can be submitted to the press by the end of 1982. The second volume will be totally a data volume, probably published in microfiche. Loofs-Wissowa has been in the forefront of those archaeologists who have been critical of the early dating of bronze in Southeast Asia, and Thailand in particular. The other critical author with whom I am acquainted is Wolfgang Marschall,2 and I have answered his criticisms elsewhere.3 I had heard that Loofs-Wissowa was presenting critical lectures, but other than his remarks on thermoluminescence dates from Thailand,4 I have noted nothing in print before outside of the rather general comments in his 1980 paper.5 As a Corresponding Member of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies,Loofs Wissowa s article, presented at the beginning of this series, was sent to me for my recommendation on its publication. I felt it would be good to have his criticisms on record so that they could be answered and suggested to the Editor that not only the original paper be published but also replies to it. This proposal, approved by the Editor, was presented to Loofs-Wissowa and he agreed as long as he could have our replies in time for him to reply in turn, all papers to be included in the same issue. As this

On Maritime Hunting and Gathering

New York: Seminar Press. MGOMEZULU, G. G. Y. 1979. Malawi archaeology revisited: A probe beyond the surface. Society of Malawi Journal 32(2): 6-24. MORGAN, L. H. 1964 (1877). Ancient society. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. WILDESEN, LESLIE E., and Y. T. WITHERSPOON. 1978. Archaeology for the people: The ethics of public archaeology. American Society for Conservation Archaeology Newsletter 5(2).

Archaeology and Anthropology in Southeast Asia

I agreed in the fall of 1979 to be the guest editor of a special issue of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies on the state of the art of archaeology and anthropology in South east Asia. This special issue was to be published in March 1984 and I was to have the papers to the editor by the 15th of October 1983; plenty of time I thought. I first attemp ted to get two senior American anthropologists to be associate editors, one for Mainland Southeast Asia and one for Island Southeast Asia. This did not work out so in the fall of

Prehistoric Archaeology in Thailand

The first years work was to be primarily field survey to locate and test sites. Any sites found in construction areas of the dams were to be excavated at once. Plans for the second year would see two parties in the field for a part of the season, one continuing with detailed survey and the second with excavation of sites. The third year would operate with one field party. Headquarters, laboratory, and storage facilities are located at Pimai (see Map, FIG. I), the site of an extensive Khmer site, the central ruins of which are in the process of reconstruction by the Fine Arts Department. The field season, determined by the end and the beginning of the rainy season, runs from about the middle of October to the middle of May. It is hoped that during the rainy season all laboratory work and research will be completed on the materials collected during the field season and the final report for that season in the press before starting the next season in the field.