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- Convenors:
-
Oliver Pryce
(CNRS)
Stéphanie Leroy (CNRS)
- Location:
- Salle du conseil 4th floor MAE
- Start time:
- 10 July, 2015 at
Time zone: Europe/Paris
- Session slots:
- 3
Short Abstract:
This panel seeks papers challenging assumptions about the complex Man:metal interactions thought to shape Southeast Asia's historical trajectory from the Bronze Age to the present day by drawing on the increasingly rich regional database for metal production, exchange and consumption behaviours.
Long Abstract:
This panel seeks papers challenging assumptions about the complex Man:metal interactions thought to shape Southeast Asia's historical trajectory from the Bronze Age to the present-day by drawing on the increasingly rich regional database for metal production, exchange and consumption behaviours. These data encourage new thinking on transmission mechanisms and the socio-economic and environmental impacts of metallurgy:
- How and why did some regional populations adopt and innovate with metal technologies over the last 3+ millennia? What factors may have catalysed and inhibited technological behaviours? Are there any long-terms patterns particular to Southeast Asia?
- Can we evaluate metallurgy's transformative role, if any, on agriculture, architecture, craftsmanship, markets, performing arts, hunting, sculpture and warfare?
- How strong is the link between metallurgy and Southeast Asian social complexity? Did iron 'democratise' metal (sensu V.G. Childe) in the regional context, contrasting greater availability of raw materials with a wider range of required technical competencies?
- What was metallurgy's role in linking Southeast Asia to neighbouring regions, via the long-distance movement of raw materials, finished goods, techniques, artisans, coinage, scrap or iconography?
- What was the cost of metallurgy, in terms of wealth distribution, resource management, territoriality or atmospheric/soil/water pollution?
- What methodologies are most appropriate for studying metal artefacts and production remains and reconstructing past metallurgical practices in Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asia's confluence of ethnocultural, geological and technological diversity ensure the region retains a wealth of archaeometallurgical interest in its own right and can be developed as an important source for global analogy.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Paper short abstract:
The discovery of three virtually complete decorated bronze bowls in the River Tapao at Kaeo Sam Kaeo, Chumphon Province, Thailand necessitates a a re-evaluation of the whole set.
Paper long abstract:
Over the past three decades a number of, mostly fragmentary, decorated bronze bowls have been found or excavated in Thailand. The discovery of three virtually complete decorated bronze bowls recovered from the River Tapao at Khao Sam Kaeo between 2010 and 2014 prompts me to offer a re-evaluation of the whole set and alter some of the interpretations previously published.
Paper short abstract:
This paper explores ways Southeast Asian archaeologists can enhance understanding of their metal-related data by applying new theoretical frameworks to excavated evidence.
Paper long abstract:
Application of archaeometric techniques to metals and related evidence from prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia is in its infancy. One result is that sample sizes per site have in most cases been minute although in rare instances, such as Ban Chiang, sample sizes for metallographic and elemental analyses have been more robust and representative. Small sample sizes obscure the key evidence for intrasite and regional variability in technological and economic systems. If our field is to move meaningfully toward the application of life-history approaches to the study of material culture in past economies and the reconstruction of technological systems in terms of chaînes opératoires, the field must raise the bar in terms of many sampling issues, Not only are larger samples required for plausible reconstructions, but complete assemblages must be assessed, not just a handful of idiosyncratically selected intact artifacts from single context types (usually graves). If the field accomplishes these methodological advances, we have a chance not just to be contributing to regional prehistory, but also to be engaging in the current global discussions of early metallurgy.
Paper short abstract:
Southeast Asian lead isotope archaeological research is now over two decades old. How useful are these data at this stage? The major methodological approaches are compared and contrasted and the Iron Age Phum Snay dataset re-interpreted.
Paper long abstract:
Southeast Asian lead isotope archaeology, or the geochemical reconstruction of regional non-ferrous metal production, exchange and consumption networks, is now over two decades old. The archaeometallurgical research teams' combined database now exceeds over 500 determinations and covers most Southeast Asian countries' Bronze and Iron Age periods; albeit with a very uneven coverage. How useful are these data at this stage, and what direction should we take now? To offer an answer I will review the two methodological approaches applied to date and re-interpret the very dense dataset available from Iron Age Phum Snay in northwest Cambodia. Instead of a general attribution of most bronzes to a 'Chinese' origin, I suspect that sourcing to a primary production site or even region may not be possible. However, I can detect patterning suggestive of the batch production of certain artefacts for use in burial practices.
Paper short abstract:
This poster examines the metal artifacts from Gua Harimau (Harimau Cave) in South Sumatera – Indonesia. From the excavation found burials, stone artifacts, ceramics, cave painting and metal artifacts made from bronze and iron. Our research focus on analyze composition, microstructure, form and motif
Paper long abstract:
This poster examines the metal artifacts, bronze and iron from Gua Harimau (Harimau Cave) in South Sumatera - Indonesia. Gua Harimau excavated since 2009 until 2014 and still ongoing, show this site is a burials cave, inhabitant at least from Pre-Neolithic until Paleometalic (Protohistory) period in Indonesia. From the excavation, the team from Pusat Arkeologi Nasional (National Center for Archaeology) Indonesia found burials, stone artifacts, ceramics, first cave painting found in Sumatera Island and metal artifacts. The metals artifacts very rare found at sites and not yet analyzed, until 2014 only 11 artifacts, made from bronze and iron. Our research focus on analyze composition, microstructure, form and motif the metal artifacts. From the analyze, we hope we can find answer and put it on metallurgy history line in Southeast Asia.
Paper short abstract:
A comparative study is made on stylistic and technological grounds of vessels and high-tin bronze bowls found in the Indian subcontinent attributed to the megalithic/Iron Age and early historic periods, with some early examples found in Thailand. Aspects of material culture and surviving techniques point to wider Asian exchanges in antiquity.
Paper long abstract:
This paper attempts to make a comparative study of vessels and bowls found in India attributed to the Iron Age and early historic periods, with some early examples found in Thailand. Investigations on Thai sites from about the mid first millennium BCE onwards (studied by Rajpitak, Bennett, Seeley, Glover, Bellina-Pryce, Pryce and others) have revealed finds of bronze bowls. Some of the analysed examples were found to have a high-tin content, while there are also examples of decorated bronze bowls amongst these. Scattered examples of high-tin bronzes have also been reported from the Indian subcontinent attributed to the Iron age and early historic period spanning the early first millennium BCE to early centuries CE. These include the author’s archaeometallurgical investigations of a few finds from the Adichanallur burials and Nilgiri cairns in Government Museum, Chennai, and also Mahurjhari from the Vidarbha megaliths and Gandharan Grave culture of Taxila. These were of hot forged and quenched high tin bronze of about 21-24% tin, which were comparable to a surviving tradition in Kerala. This paper further compares technological and stylistic aspects of vessels from the different clusters of northwest India, eastern India and southern India/Deccan with those found in Thailand. Further comparisons are made with surviving practices documented from Orissa in eastern India apart from Kerala in southern India and with material culture from other megalithic sites including Kodumanal in Tamil Nadu.
Paper short abstract:
The 2011-2014 Thai-French Archaeological Mission has resulted in three main archaeometallurgical advances: 1) a multi-nodal network for ‘Indian’ high-tin bronze bowls, 2) ancient fakes of ‘Dongson’ drums and 3) a possible revision to the Thai Bronze Age’s southern boundary.
Paper long abstract:
The archaeometallurgical programme of the 2011-2014 Thai-French Archaeological Mission in the Thai-Malay Peninsula has resulted in three main interpretational advances; despite the relatively low number of artefacts found and studied.
Firstly, an assemblage of 'Indian' high-tin bronze bowls from the Iron Age settlement at Khao Sek and neighbouring sites provides additional isotopic clustering and matches with examples known from elsewhere in Southeast Asia, indicating a multi-nodal production and exchange network for these important elements of exogenous material culture.
Secondly, a 'Dongson' drum found at Khao Sek would appear to fit the well-known narrative of early Iron Age contact with northern Vietnam. However, the physical and chemical characteristics of the artefact are not consistent with typical Dongson drums, and indeed suggest the Khao Sek example maybe a poorly executed copy made using copper from central Laos.
Thirdly, Peninsular Thailand has long been seen as following a separate historical trajectory to that of mainland Thailand, particularly as it was thought to transition straight from the Neolithic to the Metal Age c. 400 BC, as per the rest of maritime Southeast Asia. There is no doubting the Peninsula's strong maritime links but an axe found at Tham Than Nam Lot Yai may date to the Bronze Age. The stratigraphy is complex but the axe's context has been dated to 1261 to 1055 BC, which allowing for the 'old wood' affect for local hardwood species may indicate a mid-8th century BC Bronze Age boundary, as traditionally defined.
Paper short abstract:
Extensive technical investigations of a large, well-preserved Khmer bronze sculpture of a male deity in the Metropolitan Museum of Art demonstrate the exemplary skills in lost-wax casting of Angkorian bronze casters during the 11th century and identify previously undiscovered techniques.
Paper long abstract:
In the Cambodian collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a large bronze sculpture of a two-armed standing male deity (1988.355), possibly found in Northeast Thailand, Buriram province. Although it defies ready identification, representing either the Hindu deity Śiva in anthropomorphic form or a deified king, this image is dated on stylistic grounds to the second half of the 11th century. To better understand its fabrication, the statue was studied visually and instrumentally at the Metropolitan's Sherman Fairchild Center for Objects Conservation and the Department of Scientific Research in collaboration with the Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France. Following a methodological approach adapted for examining lost-wax-cast bronze sculptures, a large number of analytical techniques were used. In addition to its inestimable historical and art-historical value, the Metropolitan image is a technical masterpiece, demonstrating the exemplary skills of Khmer bronze casters during the 11th century. New information on foundry practices was discovered, such as alignment marks, multiple cast parts, flow-fusion welding and polychromy. From this rare, well-preserved sculpture, we can explore the original appearance of bronze cult icons and hence, aesthetic tastes during this time period. Its large size and use of imported commodities for its decoration are additional evidence of fine quality production commissioned by high status, wealthy patrons; certainly from the royal court and administrative elite.
Paper short abstract:
In 2013-2014 excavations at Khao Sek on the Thai-Malay Peninsula found a well-preserved iron smithing workshop floor, with intact hearths and in-situ tools and artefacts. Secure radiocarbon dates place the workshop in the 3rd century BC. This paper describes the worksop and its context, and touches on some of the other iron artefacts found nearby in disturbed (but probably related) contexts.
Paper long abstract:
In 2012-2014 the Franco-Thai Archaeological Mission carried out a series of test excavations at the site of Khao Sek, on the Thai-Malay Peninsula, in the search for evidence of a late prehistoric port of trade and industrial settlement. Previous nearby work at Khao Sam Kaeo had identified just such a settlement, but it had been badly damaged by looting. The situation at Khao Sek turned out to be similar, and the combined effects of looting and erosion had destroyed much evidence, but enough was found to confirm the presence of the settlement in the 3rd century BC. In particular, part of the well-preserved floor of an iron smithing workshop was found, with intact hearths, in situ tools and a rubble rear wall. While evidence of iron working is widespread in South East Asia, such a well-preserved smithing workshop has not been found before. This paper describes the workshop evidence, and briefly considers its place locally and regionally. It also touches on the iron artefacts from disturbed contexts at Khao Sek, and the archaeological evidence that has been lost through this disturbance.
Paper short abstract:
For the first time in Southeast Asia a multi-disciplinary project has identified a historic bronze workshop where both statues and objects were crafted and united this discovery with characterization of manufacturing debris.
Paper long abstract:
Research on the chronology, meaning and influence of Khmer sculpture has greatly enhanced our understanding of the Angkorian kingdom. But studies that consider the methods of manufacture and the individuals and teams responsible for crafting the images remain partial. Preliminary results from surveys, excavations and material analyses, north of the Royal Palace in Angkor Thom, reveal much about Angkorian copper-based metallurgy. The close proximity to the Royal Palace complex suggests the atelier was of considerable importance to the political elite who commissioned its products to furnish its palaces and temples with objects, and to legitimise its rule with images of the gods. Complementary technical investigations into archaeometallurgical materials such as technical ceramics (crucibles, moulds, remains of wall furnaces), copper objects and foundry waste, iron objects, slags, and stone and ceramic tools can consider the foundry practices privileged by pre-modern craft specialists.
Paper short abstract:
This paper presents the result of the elemental and provenance study on the metal objects from the 12-13th century’s Java Sea wreck by X-Ray Fluorescence, Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, and lead isotope analysis.
Paper long abstract:
Artifacts from a shipwreck site are a unique archaeological asset. The characteristics of discovered artifacts from such sites are distinct from objects found at production and consumption sites on land, as they directly represent the state of material transit. The Field Museum is the custodian of a large collection of artifacts from the Java Sea Wreck, an Indonesian ship that was travelling from China to Java in the 12-13th c. AD. The cargo comprised large quantities of metal artifacts. We focused our attention on copper ingots, bronze gongs, and lead-tin balance weights that might have been personal possessions of the crew or passengers. We performed elemental analysis on these objects using portable X-Ray Fluorescence and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry to determine the elemental composition of the artifacts. It also gave us insights on how best to approach elemental analysis on metal objects that remained submerged in the sea for several centuries. This presentation will also report on preliminary lead isotope analysis results obtained from some of the artifacts to determine their provenance.
Paper short abstract:
By coupling archaeological, technological, chronological and sourcing investigations linked to key methodological aspects, this multidisciplinary paper provides the first clues of reconstruction of iron procurement during the Angkorian period and absolute chronological markers for Angkorian temples.
Paper long abstract:
A century of research at Angkor, in Cambodia, has generated an invaluable record of the political and religious aspects of Khmer society but has yet to provide direct insight into the functioning of its exchange system. Iron, with its dynamic technological characteristics, is viewed as an ideal medium to investigate the organization of production and exchange networks. This paper represents a pilot study of an ANR project IRANGKOR (2015-2018) that aims to provide direct insight into the functioning and complex interaction of cultural and technological variables within the Angkorian production-distribution network and identify evolution(s) in iron production and distribution. The foundation of this study is an integrated methodology capable of characterizing the origin of iron to enrich knowledge of production-exchange systems from the range of available evidence and determining absolute chronological markers of finished products that has the potential to impact our understanding of iron's origin, production, distribution and use over the last three thousand years.
This research has included hundreds of excavated materials from production sites and iron ore sources, 50 crampons from four of Angkor's most important temples; and involved major methodological breakthroughs based on an integrated approach (technological characterisation, macroscopic and microscopic compositional investigation, ad-hoc multivariate analyses, 14C dating of iron). We provide here the first clues of reconstruction of iron procurement during the Angkorian period and demonstrate the first direct evidence for the life history of the temples. In addition to expose these results, this paper will review key methodological aspects linked to such an interpretation.