• Last post of the year - looking back in the year that was archaeology in Southeast Asia in 2022. Check out the full post here: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/12/16/southeast-asian-archaeology-2022-year-in-review/

And see you in the new year! Best wishes to all for the holiday season!

#southeastasianarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology2022 #recap
  • Last month I was at the Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province - a less-known archaeological site, but an impressive one considering the ancient town has remnants dating from prehistoric times until the 13th century CE. Khao Klang Nok is a massive Buddhist stupa dating to the 8th or 9th centuries CE, located outside of the ancient town of Si Thep. I was able to get som cool shots from my drone, check out my post here: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/12/15/drone-flight-over-khao-klang-nok-si-thep-historical-park/

#khaoklangnok #sithephistoricalpark #phetchabun #drone #dronestagram #dvaravati #khmer #thaiarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #southeastasia #อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ศรีเทพ #เพชรบูรณ์ #archaeology
  • Extended edit from Khao Klang Nok in Si Thep Historical Park, very grateful for the permission to take some shots for the @seameospafa post-#ippa2022 excursion.
  • Ending the second day of the @seameospafa #ippa2022 post-conference excursion on a high note - literally. Khao Klang Nok at the Si Thep Historical Park #southeastasianarchaeology #sithephistoricalpark #khaoklangnok
  • Terracotta elephant statue from the pre-Thang Long period, approximately 8-10th century. On display at the museum under the National Assembly Building in Hanoi. #vietnamarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #vietnam #hanoi #thanglong #terracotta #elephant #ceramics #ancientart
  • Earlier this week there was a news article about a Thai archaeologist’s attempt to repatriate a statue that was reportedly looted from Buriram province and now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/07/08/thai-archaeologist-on-mission-to-reclaim-ancient-khmer-sculpture-from-us/

This is the so-called Golden Boy, taken at the Met last December. The label calls it a Standing Shiva(?) and attributes it to the Cambodia, Siem Reap origin but it may be in fact a representation of Jayavarman Vi. You can see the museum info here: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39097?ft=khmer&offset=0&rpp=40&pos=3

#khmer #sculpture #looting #antiquitiestrade #themet #metropolitanmuseumofart #khmerarchaeology #thaiarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #southeastasia #museums #repatriation #angkor #cambodia #thailand #buriram
  • What’s in your field kit? Here’s what’s in mine: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/07/04/whats-in-my-archaeology-field-kit-june-2022/ #fieldwork #fieldgear #camera #drone #archaeology #photography #videography
  • Last month I received the latest publication from the Getty Conservation Institute entitled Networking for Rock Art, focusing on public engagement. I have a small contribution very aptly named “Leave a Like and Subscribe” 😅 You can download a copy here: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/pdf_publications/networking_for_rock_art.html#:~:text=Networking%20for%20Rock%20Art&text=This%20volume%20by%20the%20Rock,are%20addressed%20through%20local%20action. #rockart #publicarchaeology #communityarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #freebook #book #gettyconservationinstitute
  • A cocktail is an unlikely candidate for an archaeology-based feed, but it turns out that the iconic Singapore Sling of the Long Bar at @raffleshotelsingapore  was a favourite of Dutch prehistorian van Stein Callenfels. No doubt, lithics work makes one thirsty. #singaporesling #rafffleshotel #longbar #indonesianarchaeology #malaysianarchaeology #singaporearchaeology #pietervansteincallenfels #southeastasianarchaeology #travelsingapore #visitsingapore #singaporetourism #singapore #cocktails
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For those who haven’t tried it, the Singapore Sling is essentially a boozy fruit punch. It was also designed for the ladies but I guess that didn’t stop Ivan the Terrible!
  • After several false starts due to the year-end supply chain disruptions I finally got my hands on my colouring book! Link in Bio. Some of my earlier drawings are cruder than the later ones but overall happy with the final product. Thanks everyone who supported this book! If you bought a copy, it would help greatly if you left a review on Amazon. Some of my Buy Me a Coffee members will be getting a copy soon :) #southeastasianarchaeology #coloringbook #weekendproject #patronreward
Thursday, January 26, 2023
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Home » Thailand » A visit to the Phanom Surin Shipwreck site, Samut Sakorn Province

A visit to the Phanom Surin Shipwreck site, Samut Sakorn Province

March 16, 2015
in Featured, Thailand
Tags: ceramicsPhanom Surin Shipwreck (site)photographySamut Sakhon (province)shipwrecksunderwater cultural heritagewood
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Archaeologists investigating a wooden structure, discovered during their search for the ship's stern.

Archaeologists investigating a wooden structure, discovered during their search for the ship's stern.

Over the weekend some friends and I went to Samu Sakorn Province, about an hour south of Bangkok, to visit the Phanom Surin Shipwreck site where an exciting archaeological excavation is going on – the unearthing of a 9th century Arab-style sewn ship.

Phanom Surin Shipwreck site in Thailand's Samut Sakorn Province.
Phanom Surin Shipwreck site in Thailand’s Samut Sakorn Province.

Some of you will know that the Belitung Shipwreck holds the title as the oldest shipwreck found in Southeast Asia – and this, the Phanom Surin wreck, is of the same age. It was discovered in 2013, by the landowner. This area is used for shrimp farming, and the owner had discovered at large, 17-metre kelson while digging on his land. Very fortunately, the owner contacted the authorities, which finally has led to the Thai Fine Arts Department conducting the slow process of unearthing and conserving the remains. The owners remain supporting to this day (the wreck is actually named after the owner), donating the land to to the authorities and now there is a long term plan to carefully investigate the wreck and its remains, as well as to set up a museum on site.

The 17m kelson, the wooden beam running at the bottom of the ship reinforcing the keel, is kept submerged in water to preserve it.The 17m kelson, the wooden beam running at the bottom of the ship reinforcing the keel, is kept submerged in water to preserve it.
The 17m kelson, the wooden beam running at the bottom of the ship reinforcing the keel, is kept submerged in water to preserve it.

The landscape has obviously changed a fair bit, as we are now already 8km inland, but a thousand years ago the shores were up to this point, which explains the presence of the shipwreck. During the first season of excavation last year, the kelson was retrieved and the wreck was partially excavated, revealing several interesting pieces such as torpedo jars (amphoras). Preliminary evaluations suggest origins of the ceramics from India and the Middle East, as well as China.

The site of the main shipwreck remains.
The site of the main shipwreck remains.
A view of the hull, just peeking out of the water. The block in the foreground is what is thought to be the bow. and you can see the curvature of the hull on the left.
A view of the hull, just peeking out of the water. The block in the foreground is what is thought to be the bow. and you can see the curvature of the hull on the left.

Like the Belitung Shipwreck, the Phanom Surin wreck appears to have been stitched together as well, which suggests that it was an Arab-style ship. For a look at how a reconstructed Arab ship looks like, check out my earlier post on the Jewel of Muscat, which was based on the Belitung ship.

Detail of the stitching on the hull structure.
Detail of the stitching on the hull structure.

The current investigation is focused on the other end of the ship. Since the bow has been found, the team is trying to determine the location of the stern. As you can see, the work conditions are quite challenging – you have to be waist deep in mud all the time. Here archaeologists are examining what is thought to be the roof structure of the helm or cabin.

Archaeologists investigating a wooden structure, discovered during their search for the ship's stern.
Archaeologists investigating a wooden structure, discovered during their search for the ship’s stern.

On the shed the houses the kelson, a small shrine has been set up to the local spirits, a common sight in Southeast Asia, especially in archaeological sites. I think someone really did win the lottery, which is why the owners did not mind donating the land for archaeological research. Reminds me that I need to get a ticket today, heh heh.

The find turned out to be good luck, and has become a spirit shrine where people would come to pray for luck, especially with the lottery!
The find turned out to be good luck, and has become a spirit shrine where people would come to pray for luck, especially with the lottery!

Going out to see this site also gave me a chance to play with a new toy: the Parrot Bebop, a quadcopter with an attached camera that I hope to use for later archaeological investigations. If you remember, I experimented with remote controlled helicopters ages ago for aerial photography with no success (I developed the pole camera instead), but now the technology has finally caught up with my requirements. Watch this space for more aerial videos of archaeological sites!

This is a huge discovery, and the possibility of a wreck as old, or even older than the Belitung Wreck (with less controversial provenance) is very exciting. Expect to hear more about this site in the future. In the meantime, you can read about the wreck in the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum newsletter, in this piece that was written last year.

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