Uncovering Southeast Asia's Past: Selected Papers from the 10th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists

The 36 chapters in this collection have been selected to give an overview of recent research into prehistoric and early historic archaeology in Southeast Asia. In the first chapter Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindorn of Thailand comments on the significance of the inscriptions from the important Khmer temple, Prasat Phnom Rung in northeastern Thailand. Following this, Professor Charles Higham gives an original and insightful survey of the prehistoric threads linking south China and the countries of modern Southeast Asia.

The writers in this book are all engaged in archaeological and historical research in the region, and they range from senior professional academic teachers to new students just starting to make their contributions to an evolving story of the past of many of the nation states of modern Southeast Asia. The essays are organised into 7 broad themes: the late Pleistocene and early Holocene communities; new perspectives on the Neolithic; Bronze and Iron Age mortuary practices; Iron Age landscapes and cultures; emerging early states and trading ports; urban landscapes; and regional and long-distance exchange relations.

This book makes a significant contribution to the knowledge of a complex, dynamic and multiethnic region whose peoples have roots deep into the past.