[Paper] New evidence of metal exchange in Southeast Asia during the Iron Age: scientific analysis of excavated bronze in Vilabouly, Laos

via Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 15 January 2024: The 2018 excavation at Thengkham East site in Vilabouly, Laos, has brought to light bronze artifacts that underscore the region’s role in the Southeast Asian metal exchange network during the Iron Age. Scientific analysis reveals that these artifacts share metallurgical traditions with others in the region, suggesting a widespread exchange network. The presence of mining sites and evidence of ore processing in Vilabouly points to advanced metallurgical activities, with lead isotope analysis hinting at complex trading patterns involving intermediate products.

This study combines various methods to investigate bronze artifacts excavated at the Thengkham East site in Vilabouly, Laos, in 2018. These excavated copper objects are consistent with other previously published copper objects from Vilabouly in terms of style, alloying ratios, and forming techniques, demonstrating that similar metallurgical traditions were indeed employed within Vilabouly. For dagger-axes with very low tin content, based on cultural connections between Southeast Asia and Yunnan, China, this study proposes the hypothesis that the dagger-axes unearthed in Vilabouly are funerary implements. The study of lead isotope ratios indicates evidence for the exchange of a multi-layered artifact between the mining/ore processing site and general consumption site at Vilabouly. This may indicate that the trading network within Vilabouly is based on intermediate products. Introducing new lead isotope ratio data for copper objects from Thailand and Cambodia, the comparative studies reinforced the widespread view that during the early Iron Age in Ban Non Wat, central Laos succeeded Thailand in supplying copper to various regions of Southeast Asia.

Source: New evidence of metal exchange in Southeast Asia during the Iron Age: scientific analysis of excavated bronze in Vilabouly, Laos | Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences