Ban Chiang

Ban Chiang (Thai: บ้านเชียง, pronounced [bâːn tɕʰīaŋ] listen; Northeastern Thai: บ้านเซียง, pronounced [bâːn sîaŋ]) is an archaeological site in Nong Han district, Udon Thani province, Thailand. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Discovered in 1966, the site first attracted interest due to its ancient red-painted pottery. Furthermore, Ban Chiang is a significant site known for its archaeological evidence of early agriculture and its strong influence of culture depicted through artwork specifically seen in the red-painted pottery. Ban Chiang’s long history of site history and metal craftsmanship shows the biological and cultural changes over time and their influences on the community. More recently, it gained international attention in 2008 when the United States Department of Justice, following an undercover investigation begun in 2003, raided several museums for their role in trafficking in Ban Chiang antiquities.

Discovery