Banyan Valley Cave is located deep in the jungles of upland Thailand. Throughout the river valleys there are many caves that have been used throughout human history and that is where the Banyan Valley Cave is found - dug deep into the rocks. The site was excavated by an American archeologist named Gorman. Gorman found evidence of human occupation there. Gorman also excavated Banyan Valley and Steep Cliff caves nearby and found similar evidence of prehistoric ocuupation. Occupation of the cave is dated back to the beginning of the Hoabinhian Period of the Late Stone Age and was occupied through the Bronze and Iron Ages. This site has been dated between 3,500-900 B.C. and it is not known why the occupants vanished. Gorman used the term “Hoabinhian” to describe some of the cultural and material aspects of the people that lived there.
Many artifacts have come from this astounding site. They are basic items such as pottery, jewelry, metal tools, stone weights and so on. There are also many different drawings on the walls in these caves many of which are pictures of people and animals. This area was ideal for human occupation situated along the river with many caves for shelter. Their ceremonies still remain a mystery but it is believed that they were extraordinary. The inhabitants of the cave had domesticated sheep, goats and cattle and, of course, they caught fish. They also domesticated wheat and barley. There is evidence of trade involving marine shells, metals and semiprecious stones.
Resources
http://www.wku.edu/~appleda/oldworld/seasia/food.html
http://www.geocities.com/thailand_adventure/prehistory.htm
http://www.wmceg.freeserve.co.uk/reports/thailand.htm
http://archaeology.about.com/od/bterms/g/banyancave.htm
http://www.fwkc.com/encyclopedia/high/articles/a/article/a002000612a.html
Written by Ryan Linneman, 2001 and Updated by Blake Kotajarvi, 2002