Judy Christina Voelker

This project completes the analysis of small finds, including publication quality digital photography, from three important archaeological sites excavated between 1986 and 1994 by the Thailand Archaeometallurgy Project (TAP) in the Khao Wang Prachan Valley of central Thailand. While TAP, a joint Thai-American initiative, has focused on the origins, development, and societal impact of copper-base metallurgy in ancient Thailand, this research is fundamental to our understanding of three excavated prehistoric sites of Non Pa Wai, Nil Kham Haeng, and Non Mak La. The copper industry present at these sites represents a major regional center for the production of raw copper that was traded across wide areas in prehistory. This project is also designed to provide undergraduate students with collaborative post-excavation analysis experience. Outcomes of this research include a 'Catalog of Small Finds' from the three sites and the development of an online database of the multitude of artifacts under study. These outcomes are essential to moving these three excavations forward to publication.