[Talk] It’s complicated! The Current State of Maritime Knowledge in Thailand With Abhirada Pook Komoot

Readers may be interested in this talk by newly-minted PhD Dr Abhirada Komoot on maritime archaeology in Thailand, happening on 30 May at 15:00 (UTC+7). Link below is from Facebook, which has a direct link to the webinar.

This presentation reviews the current state of maritime knowledge of mainland Southeast Asia from Thailand’s perspective. It aims to reappraisal the complexity of maritime connections and reshapes our thinking of how maritime history should be understood in the Southeast Asian context. Maritime historiography of Southeast Asia today is based on the separate view of the mainland and island regions. Many scholars have chosen to focus on the island setting to represent the maritime greatness and the competition of naval power. The neglect of the mainland in maritime activities is unjustified. It has underestimated and distorted the role of the continental coast in a significant way.

A result of my initial-phase survey in Thailand has shown strong evidence of a complex link of the continental coast and land to the wider maritime world. The nautical knowledge of the mainland is no less than the island region. In fact, there are some core findings that need to be emphasized. Ship remains are the direct evidence of water transportation and the connections made via waterway. The distribution of Southeast Asian lashed-lug and Indian Ocean sewn-plank vessels testifies to the participation of the mainland communities in intra and interregional maritime activities up at the top of the Gulf of Thailand and the upland. An odd piece of keel end shows a possible ancient hydrofoil technology that has never been found elsewhere besides Thailand. Essentially, the oldest shipwreck in Southeast Asia was discovered near the Isthmus of Kra, on the upper peninsular. By this means, the complex situation of Southeast Asia’s maritime history must be reexamined and the mainland should be equally heightened as a vital part of the regional and global maritime partner.

Source: It’s complicated! The Current State of Maritime Knowledge in Thailand With Abhirada Pook Komoot | Facebook