About Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site is a UNESCO World Heritage prehistoric settlement in Ban Chiang Subdistrict, Nong Han District, Udon Thani Province, northeastern Thailand. Excavated since 1966, it revealed a Bronze Age culture dating from around 1495 BCE to 900 CE, noted for distinctive red-painted pottery, bronze tools, and burial sites. The site includes open excavation pits and the Ban Chiang National Museum, which displays artifacts illustrating early agrarian society and metallurgy in Southeast Asia.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore the Ban Chiang National Museum with extensive displays of red-on-buff pottery, bronze tools, jewelry, and skeletal burials, and visit preserved open-air excavation pits at Wat Pho Si Nai within the village. The site is set in a rural village environment with low mounds, temple grounds, and traditional pottery workshops nearby. Exhibits are indoors and outdoors with interpretive panels, and guided tours explain the prehistoric settlement layers and burial practices.
Key highlights
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UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1992 for prehistoric significance
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Ban Chiang National Museum with extensive Bronze Age pottery and artifact collection
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Open excavation pit at Wat Pho Si Nai showing in-situ burials and stratigraphy
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Distinctive red-painted pottery tradition dating back over 3000 years