The probable industrial origin of archaeological daub at an Iron Age site in Northeast Thailand*

Determining probable firing temperatures of daub recovered from archaeological sites provides opportunities to interpret the design and/or function of prehistoric structures. This paper critiques some of the methods for determining firing temperatures of daub, and presents a case study using samples from a secure depositional context at the Iron Age archaeological site of Noen U‐Loke, in northeast Thailand. Adopting a multimethod approach, the paper examines relationships between color, micro‐ and macro‐inclusions, elemental and mineralogical composition, physical form, and temperature, through the application of ICP‐MS, XRD analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and light microscopy. The important methodological point here is that the combined interpretation of independent measures provides a better estimate of the original firing temperatures of the archaeological material than has hitherto been possible. Initial examination implied that our samples were fired, in antiquity, at low temperatures, and concluded a nonindustrial source for the daub. We suggest that determining maximum temperatures for this original firing will provide the clearest discrimination between possible types of features (e.g., housing, kiln/furnace) from which the daub originally came. The results of our study indicate that the archaeological daub samples have been exposed to a range of temperatures from 200°C to 1000°C. It seems highly likely, therefore, that the daub was derived from a spatially complex structure, such as an industrial kiln or furnace, which has experienced a range of firing temperatures. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The geoarchaeology of Iron Age “moated” sites of the Upper Mae Nam Mun Valley,N.E. Thailand. I: Palaeodrainage,site–landscape relationships and the origins of the “moats”

The study focuses on the “moated” Iron Age sites of N.E. Thailand, first identified as significant prehistoric settlement sites in the 1940s from aerial photography. Two more recent photograph sets are used to map the surficial geology and prehistoric site distribution for a study area west of Phimai, N.E. Thailand, with a focus on site–landscape relationships and, in particular, relationships between site location and form and patterns of palaeodrainage. The derived record of the surficial geology reflects several phases of palaeodrainage, characterized by differing locations and types of former river channels. Of note is the differentiation between a recent period in which river channels, including those presently active, are single-string meandering channels, and an older period of broad belts of meandering multistring channels. The prehistoric site distribution correlates closely with the older drainage, and for many, the encircling channels (the “moats”) are closely associated with former river channels. These relationships provide a critical and novel model for site distribution; several implications arise, supported by emerging field evidence, and introducing issues for archaeological debate: (i) there is no need, as has been done in the past, to invoke prehistoric artificial forms of drainage associated with the sites; (ii) the definition of the encircling channels as “moats” is seriously called into question; and (iii) the inferred geomorphological evolution of the floodplain implies past changes in environmental parameters such as run-off, climate or biophysical environments. Since the sites are all located in or beside ancient meander belts, these parameters should now be introduced into archaeological discussions regarding the establishment, history, evolution, and abandonment of the Iron Age sites. Methodologically, this article illustrates the need to be aware of the complexity of aerial photograph interpretation in archaeological survey, showing that careful analysis of aerial photograph information may have a significant impact upon the modeling of prehistoric interpretations. Further stratigraphical studies will be reported subsequently, and will refine the models presented here. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.