Ban Chiang National Museum—Udon Thani Province, Thailand - History Museums on Waymarking.com

This museum showcases the archaeology and the archaeological research carried out at the Ban Chiang site in northern Thailand. This began in 1966 when a Harvard anthropology student tripped, fell, and noticed exposed tops of buried earthen ware pots. This led to the discovery of an early settlement in the region that began in the fourth millennium BCE. The unique and significant feature of the Ban Chiang culture is that it independently developed an agrarian society, with a bronze and iron age. Prior to Ban Chiang it was generally assumed that south east Asian agriculture technology was imported from India and China. In 1992, in recognition of this importance, the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The museum was opened in 1975, but in 2006 a new and much improved museum was opened at the same site. The museum consists of nine galleries, which deal with the historical background, the archaeological dig, and many artefacts from the dig, as well as the 1972 visit by the King of Thailand, who encouraged the exploration of Ban Chiang. The museum has a reproduction dig, many diorama, and lots of information.

The original dig site, at the Buddhist temple, Wat Pho Sri Nat, is part of the museum, though it is located 500m to the east, along Sutthipong Rd, an easy walk. This dig is enclosed with a protective shelter, with information plaques.

Entrance will cost you, if you are a foreigner, 150 baht ($5). There is a gift shop in the museum, no food, but outside is the village with lots of small, local eateries for midday snacks.

Ban Chiang is ~50kms due east of the provincial capital of Udon Thani. Getting there is just a little tricky. As far as I could gather there are no organised tours to the site. The easiest way to reach Ban Chiang is to take a bus from Udon Thani city to the neighbouring province of Sakhon Nakhon, and tell the driver that you wish to alight at Ban Chiang. This trip will cost you 40 baht ($1+), and consume slightly less than an hour of your time. Keep an eye on where you are going, the driver might just forget your drop off point, however, do not worry, there is a large blue sign stretched above the side road to the site, visible from the main road. From the turn off there are tuk tuks waiting to take you to the museum and back, all for the princely sum of 120 bath (~$4—I gave my driver a 20 baht tip). If this interests you I strongly suggest a visit to the Udon City museum. This museum also has a wide range of artefacts and displays from Ban Chiang.

If things historical or archaeological are of interest to you I certainly recommend a visit.

Theme: Archaeological history or early agrarian settlement. Street Address: Ban Chiang National Museum Moo 13, Sutthipong Rd Ban Chiang, Nong Han, Udon Thai Province. +66 0 4420 8340 Food Court: no Gift Shop: yes Hours of Operation: Mondays & Tuesdays — CLOSED Wed-Sun: 09.00-16.00 The site museum is open every day from 08.30-18.00. Cost: 150.00 (listed in local currency) Museum Size: Small Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]

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