Remote sensing and luminescence dating of archaeological sites in Buriram province, northeastern Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to apply remote sensing and luminescence dating to study archaeological sites in Buriram Province, Northeastern Thailand. There are three main objectives including 1) to model the ancient path from the mountain passes along the Dângrêk mountain to ancient community on Angkor Highland or Northeast Thailand, 2) to directly date slag from the ancient iron smelting site at Ban Sai To 7, and 3) determine the terminal age of Ban Sai To 7 site using technical ceramics.

Firstly, the results of the GIS-based least cost path (LCP) route, using topographic factors, show that Ta Muen, Sai Ta Ku, and Krang are the most suitable for transportation between the Khorat plateau and present Cambodia. These results are consistent with archaeological evidence i.e., Dharmasalas. Most Khmer monuments are located in the vicinity of LCP routes. Moreover, the LCP route of Ta Muen is significant with the location of the ancient industrial zone in Ban Kruat District. However, most ancient smelting sites were in the Iron Age, although they were assumed to be active during the Khmer period when compared with the relative findings.

The major challenge of archaeometallurgy is the limitation of suitable sample for the scientific dating method. Therefore, the second is to investigate the absolute date of slag in the ancient iron-smelting site at Ban Sai Tho 7 by luminescence dating. The result slag shows the luminescence signal. Therefore, luminescence dating is an effective method to directly date slag. Moreover, the results show that the terminal activity of this site is 140 years ago. This result is in good agreement with the terminal period of ancient iron smelting in Cambodia.

Finally, the dates of technical ceramics i.e., furnace and tuyere fragments in the slag heap at Ban Sai Tho 7, show that there were at least two different periods of furnace construction including 360-370 years and 1000-1110 years ago. It is indicated that there are many phrases of smelting in one heap. When comparing the ages between slags and technical ceramics, the results of these two materials are in good agreement. Moreover, this finding shows that the large size of the ancient iron-smelting site at Ban Sai Tho 7 came from a long operational lifespan rather than a large operation in a short period. The route of ancient transportation is significant with the location of ancient industrial zone especially ancient iron-smelting sites that had been since the Iron Age, the Khmer Period and the post-Khmer period.