Ban Lum Khao is a Bronze Age period archaeological site located on the Khorat Plateau of Northeast Thailand.[1][2][3] Excavations done at Ban Lum Khao created a 10 x 15 m2 dig zone with a depth of 1.7 m, revealing the village's cemetery.[3] Ban Lum Khao's cemetery consisted of three layers dating from the late Neolithic, early Bronze Age, and late Bronze Age.[1] Above the cemetery were thin occupational layers with ecofacts and artifacts such as animal bones and pottery.[1] Below the cemetery was a Neolithic era layer full of shells and ash.[1] 112 burials were excavated, with the remains of 110 individuals discovered, 59 of which were adults.[3][4] The village of Ban Lum Khao was likely inhabited by 1400 BC, with cemetery use starting 500 - 1000 years later.[3]
Bioarchaeological analysis of the three mortuary phases at Ban Lum Khao revealed two distinct types of burials: wrapped burials and coffin burials.[4] Individuals in the wrapped burial group were likely wrapped tightly in tree bark or fibrous matting that decomposed, but over a long enough period of time to where the individual's labile joints decomposed.[4] The skeletons that belonged to this group were characterized by showing signs of constriction, as none of their limbs were aligned outside of the shoulders.[4] These individuals also had collapsed ribs and vertebrae.[4] More evidence that supports this group of individuals being wrapped was the fact that their hands and feet remained articulated, meaning soft tissues decomposed while the body was held in place.[4] The group of wrapped burials consisted of 9 women and 5 men.[4]
The other type of burial practice seen at Ban Lum Khao was coffin burials. The coffin burial group consisted of 11 women and 1 man.[4] This group was characterized by extensive skeletal movement with disarticulated ribs and vertebrae, as well as bilateral constriction.[4] Soft tissues of the remains found in this group had also not been replaced by soil, unlike the wrapped group.[4] These findings support the idea that these individuals were placed in narrow, log-like coffins with concave bases.[4] This group suggests the idea that burial practices may have been gendered, as there were more women belonging to this group, but there was no statistical significance to support this idea, especially due to the imbalanced gender ratio of the examined burials.[4]
Social organization
Based on the even distribution of grave goods among burials at the village's cemetery, it is proposed that Ban Lum Khao was an egalitarian society.[1][3][4] Most adult burials at Ban Lum Khao had pottery in them, as over 400 complete vessels were found at the site.[1] Items like cooking pots and serving vessels were commonly distributed among the burials of men, women, and children.[1] Other grave goods included stone adzes, spindle whorls, shell bangles, pig and fish bones, and shell beads.[1] These goods were also evenly spread out across all burials, supporting the egalitarian organization of the society.[1] There were some minor differences in grave good distribution seemingly dependent on age or gender however, as there were slightly more grave goods found in adult women graves compared to adult men.[1] Furthermore, children were more frequently found with copper bivalve molds and adzes when compared to adult burials.[1]
Despite the organization of the villagers of Ban Lum Khao seeming egalitarian, it is likely that not everyone who lived there was local. Researchers conducted strontium isotope analysis on tooth enamel found in skeletons at the cemetery. The results helped distinguish multiple groups of women with different 87Sr/86Sr levels from those native to Ban Lum Khao.[1] These groups were also associated with specific pottery styles, supporting the idea that women from other communities married into the society of Ban Lum Khao.[1]
Health outcomes and daily life
The range of both bone stature and mass of male bones at Ban Lum Khao were significantly wider than female bones, which suggests men and women had different diets, especially in childhood.[3] It is likely not all the men at Ban Lum Khao reached their genetic potential of height, as the range in stature was 22.5 cm, compared to the 14.3 cm range for women.[3] More evidence that suggests a difference in diet for men and women at Ban Lum Khao comes in the form of dental analysis. The remains of women had more caries, while men at the site were more found to have more wear and tear as well as cavities.[3]
Male remains were also more frequently found with signs of osteoarthritis, which indicates there were differences in daily activities performed by men and women.[3] Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint degradation, meaning that men were performing activities that had more strain on their joints, likely physical activities.[3]
The people of Ban Lum Khao likely valued the health and wellbeing of community members very highly. This is evidenced by 4 out of 7 fractures (6 individuals) found in skeletons at Ban Lum Khao to have been well-healed.[3] At least one of the individuals was aging when they experienced a fracture, with again supports the idea that the community cared for each other.[3]
123456789101112Domett, K.M. (2002). "An introduction to the prehistoric people of Ban Lum Khao". Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association. 22: 111–120.
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