RECENT EXCAVATION OF NONGRAJCHAWATARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AT NONGYASAI DISTRICT, SUPHANBURI

Abstract

This paper presents results of excavation of a Neolithic earth mound at NongRajchawat in the KraSiew River basin in Suphanburi, western Thailand. Recent excavation in 2003 has uncovered a number of burials and domestic areas that can be divided into two major phases on the basic of similarity and difference of mortuary vessel types, burial tradition, and spatial distribution patterns. In the early phase, burials were placed on the top of the mound, while the fringes of the mound were used for domestic activities. Mortuary tradition of this phase is characterized by the extended supine burials, with their heads pointing to the north. A variety of grave goods were excavated, including adzes, polished stone adze, stone bracelets and pottery vessels. Some burials were placed on “sherd sheets”. The diagnostic type of pottery vessel has tripods with stout and rounded legs, which are different from those founded at other sites in Thailand. Based on the pottery cross-dating, this phase dates around 4,000-3,500 BP. In the second or later phase, the entire areas of the mound wase used for mortuary practice. The mortuary tradition featuring extended supine burials was continued, but the head direction was oriented to the west. Each burial has a relatively large number of grave offering, including adzes, polished stone adzes, and stone bracelets. Some burials were filled with potsherds. The distinctive mortuary vessels are tripods with long cone-shaped legs. This late phase dates around 3,500-3,000 BP.