Papers by Thanik (formerly Sawang) Lertcharnrit (formerly Lertrit)
The Elemental Analysis of Glass Beads
The Elemental Analysis of Glass Beads: Technology, Chronology, and Exchange, Oct 10, 2022
Ethical Approaches to Human Remains, 2019
Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southea... more Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural, and political histories, but there are also some broad similarities in terms of poor economic development that limits much local research, and strong nationalism and rigid bureaucratic procedures for research. All have implications for non-local and local bioarchaeological research. Despite the growth in bioarchaeological research, the ethics of the practice of bioarchaeology in this region remain relatively underexplored. This chapter presents some of the main ethical issues of research with human remains in the region focusing on the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, from a non-local and local researcher viewpoint. We review a range of ethical issues, including the varied way different cultures respond to bioarchaeological work, local-non-local partnership in research, community archaeology, bioarchaeological methods including post-excavation management, and looting of archaeological sites. With the recent development of local expertise in bioarchaeology in the region, the repatriation of skeletal samples to Thailand, the increase in local training, and partnerships between local and non-local bioarchaeologists, there is much promise for the further development of local research in the field.
Antiquity, 2020
In prehistoric coastal and western-central Thailand, rice was the dominant cultivar. In eastern-c... more In prehistoric coastal and western-central Thailand, rice was the dominant cultivar. In eastern-central Thailand, however, the first known farmers cultivated millet. Using one of the largest collections of archaeobotanical material in Southeast Asia, this article examines how cropping systems were adapted as domesticates were introduced into eastern-central Thailand. The authors argue that millet reached the region first, to be progressively replaced by rice, possibly due to climatic pressures. But despite the increasing importance of rice, dryland, rain-fed cultivation persisted throughout ancient central Thailand, a result that contributes to refining understanding of the development of farming in Southeast Asia.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2019
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 2000
Using Chiang Saen in northern Thailand as a case study, this paper describes the practice of arch... more Using Chiang Saen in northern Thailand as a case study, this paper describes the practice of archaeology as conducted by the Thai Fine Arts Department. In particular, it examines how the Chiang Saen archaeological site has been treated under the rubric of “cultural resource management”.
Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, 2008
Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 1997
... The 1957 project primarily involved excavations and resto-rations of four ancient ruins (Wat ... more ... The 1957 project primarily involved excavations and resto-rations of four ancient ruins (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra That Chom Kitti, Wat Pa Sak and ... The FAD has extensive resources: a very large budget (69.s million baht for restoration projects 1997-2011; 35 baht = US$l in ...
Thanks to the work of Professor Silverman,this particular section including 7 articles and one in... more Thanks to the work of Professor Silverman,this particular section including 7 articles and one interview about Cultural heritage Management all over the world has been published. Each article deals with different key-heritage management issues such as sustainable development, tourism... which are raised by archaeologists and museum curators from seven different countries.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2019
Journal of Anthropology, Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (JASAC), 2018
Damrong: Journal of the Faculty of Archaeology, 2018
Journal of Islamic Studies, 2016
A book review in Thai on basic cultural skills in the southern border provinces of Thaiand
Damrong: Journal of the Faculty of Archaeology, 2017
นิตยสารศิลปวัฒนธรรม, 2017
American Anthropologist, 2017
In Thai. English Abstract:
Promtin Tai is an Iron Age and Early Historic period site located ... more In Thai. English Abstract:
Promtin Tai is an Iron Age and Early Historic period site located in Lopburi province Thailand. Recent excavations by Dr. Thanik Lertcharnrit and Silpakorn University have uncovered Iron Age burials with ceramics, bronze and iron artifacts, and stone and glass beads. Almost 1000 glass beads and artifacts were found during the 2007 field season and twenty-three glass beads were selected for additional compositional analysis using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the beads were small annular or globular monochromatic glass beads commonly described as Indo-Pacific beads. Results indicate that many of the glass beads found in burials were made from potash glass and mineral soda glass with variable amounts of alumina and lime. A smaller quantity of beads were made from high-alumina soda glass. In addition to Indo-Pacific beads, there were also more unusual bead types including glass beads that were made to imitate agate or onyx stone beads, gold-glass beads, and faience beads. The glass bead evidence from Promtin Tai highlights its importance as a transitional site from the late prehistoric into the Early Historic period. The diversity of glass beads and glass types found at the site underscore its connectedness to multiple trade networks.
The stone beads at Promtin Tai are made from a variety of materials including agate, carnelian, as well as greenstone beads that may have been made from nephrite. The greenstone beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including bead shapes that we do not find in agate or carnelian. The origin of the nephrite beads is still unknown, however there are similar beads at other sites in Central Thailand. The origin of the agate and carnelian beads has also been the source of much speculation. Some of the agate and carenlian beads at Promtin Tai look similar in style and manufacturing method, specifically the drilling technique, to those found during the same time period in South Asia. However other scholars have wondered if some of these beads were made in Southeast Asia (e.g. Theunissen et al. 2000). Investigation of this question is ongoing, using LA-ICP-MS to analyze both stone beads and geological sources from across South and Southeast Asia. Preliminary results show that most of the beads from Promtin Tai are compositionally consistent with the Indian agate sources. This strongly indicates that the beads were being imported from South Asia, and not being made in Thailand. However there are a few beads that do appear to be compositionally distinct from the Indian sources. The meaning of these distinct beads is still unclear, however future research should help determine if some stone beads were being manufactured in Southeast Asia.
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Papers by Thanik (formerly Sawang) Lertcharnrit (formerly Lertrit)
Promtin Tai is an Iron Age and Early Historic period site located in Lopburi province Thailand. Recent excavations by Dr. Thanik Lertcharnrit and Silpakorn University have uncovered Iron Age burials with ceramics, bronze and iron artifacts, and stone and glass beads. Almost 1000 glass beads and artifacts were found during the 2007 field season and twenty-three glass beads were selected for additional compositional analysis using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the beads were small annular or globular monochromatic glass beads commonly described as Indo-Pacific beads. Results indicate that many of the glass beads found in burials were made from potash glass and mineral soda glass with variable amounts of alumina and lime. A smaller quantity of beads were made from high-alumina soda glass. In addition to Indo-Pacific beads, there were also more unusual bead types including glass beads that were made to imitate agate or onyx stone beads, gold-glass beads, and faience beads. The glass bead evidence from Promtin Tai highlights its importance as a transitional site from the late prehistoric into the Early Historic period. The diversity of glass beads and glass types found at the site underscore its connectedness to multiple trade networks.
The stone beads at Promtin Tai are made from a variety of materials including agate, carnelian, as well as greenstone beads that may have been made from nephrite. The greenstone beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including bead shapes that we do not find in agate or carnelian. The origin of the nephrite beads is still unknown, however there are similar beads at other sites in Central Thailand. The origin of the agate and carnelian beads has also been the source of much speculation. Some of the agate and carenlian beads at Promtin Tai look similar in style and manufacturing method, specifically the drilling technique, to those found during the same time period in South Asia. However other scholars have wondered if some of these beads were made in Southeast Asia (e.g. Theunissen et al. 2000). Investigation of this question is ongoing, using LA-ICP-MS to analyze both stone beads and geological sources from across South and Southeast Asia. Preliminary results show that most of the beads from Promtin Tai are compositionally consistent with the Indian agate sources. This strongly indicates that the beads were being imported from South Asia, and not being made in Thailand. However there are a few beads that do appear to be compositionally distinct from the Indian sources. The meaning of these distinct beads is still unclear, however future research should help determine if some stone beads were being manufactured in Southeast Asia.
Promtin Tai is an Iron Age and Early Historic period site located in Lopburi province Thailand. Recent excavations by Dr. Thanik Lertcharnrit and Silpakorn University have uncovered Iron Age burials with ceramics, bronze and iron artifacts, and stone and glass beads. Almost 1000 glass beads and artifacts were found during the 2007 field season and twenty-three glass beads were selected for additional compositional analysis using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the beads were small annular or globular monochromatic glass beads commonly described as Indo-Pacific beads. Results indicate that many of the glass beads found in burials were made from potash glass and mineral soda glass with variable amounts of alumina and lime. A smaller quantity of beads were made from high-alumina soda glass. In addition to Indo-Pacific beads, there were also more unusual bead types including glass beads that were made to imitate agate or onyx stone beads, gold-glass beads, and faience beads. The glass bead evidence from Promtin Tai highlights its importance as a transitional site from the late prehistoric into the Early Historic period. The diversity of glass beads and glass types found at the site underscore its connectedness to multiple trade networks.
The stone beads at Promtin Tai are made from a variety of materials including agate, carnelian, as well as greenstone beads that may have been made from nephrite. The greenstone beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including bead shapes that we do not find in agate or carnelian. The origin of the nephrite beads is still unknown, however there are similar beads at other sites in Central Thailand. The origin of the agate and carnelian beads has also been the source of much speculation. Some of the agate and carenlian beads at Promtin Tai look similar in style and manufacturing method, specifically the drilling technique, to those found during the same time period in South Asia. However other scholars have wondered if some of these beads were made in Southeast Asia (e.g. Theunissen et al. 2000). Investigation of this question is ongoing, using LA-ICP-MS to analyze both stone beads and geological sources from across South and Southeast Asia. Preliminary results show that most of the beads from Promtin Tai are compositionally consistent with the Indian agate sources. This strongly indicates that the beads were being imported from South Asia, and not being made in Thailand. However there are a few beads that do appear to be compositionally distinct from the Indian sources. The meaning of these distinct beads is still unclear, however future research should help determine if some stone beads were being manufactured in Southeast Asia.