Laos' central role in Southeast Asian copper exchange networks: A multi-method study of bronzes from the Vilabouly Complex

A prehistoric copper-production centre in central Thailand: its dating and wider implications

“…2018a & b) and central and northern Laos (Pryce & Cadet 2018; Cadet et al . 2019) also provide radiometric dates of c. eleventh/tenth century BC, at the transition to the Bronze Age. These interlink with lead isotope analysis data to endorse Pryce's (2014) ‘short’ chronology for the advent of copper/bronze metallurgy in the late second millennium BC in Mainland Southeast Asia.…”

“…Only three other prehistoric copper-producing locations are documented in Southeast Asia: the Khao Sai On mineral district, immediately south of the Khao Wong Prachan Valley, was a mining locus with two copper-producing sites at Khok Din and Noen Din (Ciarla 2007b(Ciarla , 2008Pryce et al 2013); the mining complex of Phu Lon, located to the north-east along the Mekong River (Natapintu 1988;Pigott & Weisgerber 1998;Pigott 2019); and the Vilabouly Complex in Laos (Tucci et al 2014;Cadet et al 2019). These sites provide the evidence for metal production in Thailand and Laos that underpins discussions of the development of copper-base technology across Southeast Asia.…”

“…2014; Cadet et al . 2019). These sites provide the evidence for metal production in Thailand and Laos that underpins discussions of the development of copper-base technology across Southeast Asia.…”

Late prehistoric copper smelting in the Lao PDR: Experimental reconstruction based on the Vilabouly Complex evidence

“…With a concentration of Iron Age (for NE Thailand and adjacent central Laos c. 400 BC-c. AD 400) copper production sites with associated occupation and funerary activities, especially Puen Baolo (or 'Crucible Terrace') and Thong Na Nguak (or 'Dragon Field';Cadet et al, 2019;Tucci et al, 2014;Pryce et al, 2011). Radiocarbon dating from mining shafts suggest copper mining between about 1000 BC (1071-922 calBC at 95.4%) and AD 700 (650-766 calAD at 95.4%), but the VC's main activity corresponds to the Iron Age of Mainland Southeast Asia, thought to be a period of rapidly rising social complexification, intensification of long-range exchange systems, irrigation-based agriculture, and marked influences from India and China, where centralised polities were well established (Bellina, 2018(Bellina, , 2007Ciarla, 2007;Higham et al, 2011;Higham and Rispoli, 2014).…”

“…The preferred hypothesis for the technological reconstruction is for now the co-smelting with malachite and other sulfidic copper ores mostly chalcocite maybe 'incidental' (Rostoker et al, 1989), depending on the mineralizations exploited, which lead isotope analysis suggests may have varied in the local area as deposits were exhausted/fell out of use over time (Cadet et al 2019). Co-smelting, done properly, produces metallic copper but matte production can result from an improperly balanced charge.…”