In December 1992 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Ban Chiang as a World Heritage Site based on the criteria that it "bears unique or at least exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared."  With this designation Ban Chiang joined 377 other sites around the world judged to be unique, irreplaceable, and of such outstanding universal value as to be worthy of special attention and protection.

Preservation of archaeological evidence depends ultimately on full publication of site excavations.  Thus, work on Ban Chiang at the University of Pennsylvania Museum is now focused on bringing to full publication the excavation undertaken in the 1970s.
 

When scientific excavation began at Ban Chiang by the Museum and Thai Fine Arts Department in 1974, the site proved to have an extraordinary time depth.  The many levels of human burial and habitation deposit span the "neolithic," "bronze," and "iron" ages.  Early second millennium BC dates associated with bronze objects challenged the traditionally accepted date of 500 BC for the introduction of bronze into Southeast Asia.  Contrary to formerly accepted theory, the bronze technology flourished in a village, rather than an urban, society.
 

The Friends of Ban Chiang (FOBC) were founded in the summer of 1993 in celebration of UNESCO's inscription of Ban Chiang as a World Heritage Site.  As of March 2000, we have raised nearly $157,000 from over 200 Friends in the United States and abroad.

All Friends receive the biannual newsletter, The Ban Chiang UpDate, labels for display, and invitations to all FOBC gatherings including presentations of the Museum's latest research in Southeast Asia.
 

RESEARCH the archaeological site of Ban Chiang
ANALYZE the materials recovered from the excavation
PUBLISH the research findings in a monograph series
PRESERVE the archaeological artifacts from Ban Chiang
PROTECT and promote the cultural and environmental heritage of Southeast Asia
 

We Did It!

What did we do?  We're glad you asked.  In September 1997 a challenge grant was offered to the University of Pennsylvania Museum for Thai archeological research and publication.  If we could raise $200,000 by October 2000, the donor would give $100,000!  Such funding would place the Museum's research of Thailand on a more secure financial basis!

Well, with the help of the Friends of Ban Chiang and a few tireless individuals, the Thai Archaeology Challenge has already far outstripped original expectations.  With $115,315 in private contributions as of November 1999, the challometer was only about halfway to reaching its goal.  Then The Henry Luce Foundation left a very nice present in our Christmas stocking--a $200,000 grant for the University of Pennsylvania Museum's Thai Archaeology publication program.  We'll take that over a lump of coal any day.

With the monies, the Ban Chiang Project will be able to hire additional personnel to help further our archaeological research, establish a website to facilitate scholarly exchange of data on prehistoric archaeology in Thailand, and continue our efforts to publish all the Museum-related research on the prehistory of Thailand.  Of course, there's enough information to fill seventeen volumes easily, and we're still working on getting the first three or four out.  As you can see, the job isn't over and the challenge isn't ended.
 

We still need your help!  Every contribution, no matter how small, enables us to further the cause of Thai Archaeology.  Private contributions also help attract the notice of donors like The Henry Luce Foundation.  Become a member of the Friends of Ban Chiang today and enter an exciting new world of danger and intrigue (okay, not much danger or intrigue -- more like nitty-gritty analyses and endless fact-checking.  *yawn*).  Both individual and corporate Friends are needed; all contributions are gratefully received!  Those who contribute at the level of Bronze Caster may direct their gift.

Over $1000        Bronze Caster
$500-999            Pottery Painter
$100-499            Iron Smith
$25-99                Stone Carver

**To Join: Click here to download the registration form (pdf). Please mail the form along with your tax-deductible contribution to:

Friends of Ban Chiang
University of Pennsylvania Museum
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4028

Unfortunately we are not yet able to accept membership fees online.

Thanks!

For comments or questions contact:
Ardeth Abrams, ardeth@sas.upenn.edu