Port Towns, Ancient Settlements and Trade Routes along the Pak Mangkon- Pak Kong Corridor

Abstract

The study of port towns, ancient urban centers, trade routes,and settlement patterns along the Pak Mangkon-Pak Kong corridor is considered part of the research project entitled "Ancient Coastal Land-
scapes, Port Cities, Trade Routes, and the Emergence of Early Settle-ments in Thailand within the Civilizational Context of Suvarnabhumi." This project has employed aerial photography, satellite imagery interpre-tation to analyzed and cartographic analysis to examine the interconnec-
tions of ancient port towns along the route stretching from the mouth of the Tavoy River (Pak Mangkon) to the mouth of the Mekong River (Pak Kong). The investigation encompasses local interactions associated with regional relationship, with emphasis on ancient communities situated along the route, notably key urban centers and their settlement environ-ments. These findings indicate that there were eleven notaby key urban centers, namely, the Tavoy, the Singh, the Nakhon Pathom-Ratchaburi, the Si Mahosot-Phra Rot, the Phai, the Yasodharapura-Hariharalaya, the
Koh Ker-Bakan-Sambor Prei Kuk, the Lavek, the Prei Nokor, the Kampot, and the Mekong Delta. Along the route, twenty significant ancient towns have been found. Detailed analyses of their urban layouts and settle-ment environments revealed the method and archaeological finding an
importance of this corridor in history and its role in shaping patterns of interaction, trade, and early state formation within the Suvarnabhumi area.