ANTH 3270 - Exploring Ancient Southeast Asia: Thailand

Goals: To directly familiarize students with the evidence for the emergence and development of the prehistoric cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia by focusing on the rich archaeological record found in Thailand. To acquaint students with the history and present-day conditions of the peoples of that area. Beginning with early sites such as Ban Chiang and the Pha Taem Rock Paintings site through later complex sites such as Phimai, Phanom Rung, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya, students have an opportunity to see firsthand the major archaeological sites that testify to the emergence of the varied ancient civilizations of Southeast Asia-ranging from the earliest village sties through the impressive architectural and hydraulic management legacies of Khmer domination, through the period when Thai civilization was born and came to politically and culturally dominate much of the Southeast Asian mainland.

Content: Using on-site visits to archaeological and historical sites, museums, and modern Thai indigenous communities, students become acquainted with the prehistory, history, and the rural to urban ethnographic spectrum of the cultures of Thailand. Students are confronted by a variety of alterative explanations and issueoriented perspectives that deal specifically with Mainland Southeast Asian concerns.
Taught: Alternate years, winter term in Thailand.