Transition into the bronze and iron age
The finds in the more recent graves show evidence of development in pottery production and ceramic decorative skills and also contain metal items, demonstrating the ability of early man to work with metals and the transition into bronze and iron age.
Bronze was not only used for basic necessities, but also for the manufacture of personal ornaments like anklets, rings and bracelets, demonstrating early man’s advance in human development.
Advance in social development is shown by the inclusion of burial goods in graves, house construction and the use of personal ornaments like bracelets and anklets.
The site is considered to be one of the most important prehistoric archeological sites in South East Asia, as it shows the advance in technology of farming, use of metal for tools and personal ornaments as well as social development.
Demonstrating its importance as an ancient cultural site, Ban Chiang was made an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. One of the excavation areas has been left open with a roof covering it, allowing visitors a view into the work of the archeologists. A museum at the site exhibits items found at the site including large numbers of the Ban Chiang ceramic pottery.