Although Udon Thani has only been in existence since the late 1900's, the region has a history dating as far back as Bronze Age, indeed the local village of Ban Chiang is widely accepted as the world’s first bronze civilization. Ban Chiang village also features the larger Ban Chiang Museum, with artefacts which date back nearly 7000 years.
Udon Thani has a few relics from this period but the main focus is the short history of the city. The building was formerly a school house, which was converted in to the cities first museum in 2004.
There are remains from some 1,800 years ago, which have been found in the form of paintings on cave walls and battlements buried around a stone pillar at the Phu Prabat Historical Park.
Wat Ku Kaeo, which dates back 1200 years, has contributed some ancient iron remains, and Mon brick stupas from 700 years ago hid silver lined Buddha images.