Originally inhabited between 2000 - 1500 B.C., Khok Phanom Di is a site located in central Thailand. It was first excavated by Charles Higham of the University of Otago, New Zealand and Rachanie Thosarat from the Thai Fine Arts Department. Khok Phanom Di was very intriguing to the pair because it was located very close to the sea in a mangrove swamp. It seemed to be a very rich environment and the human reactions to it were of great importance to the researchers. It was well preserved and many distinct generations of burials (mortuary phases) were visible.
One of the key questions that faced the archaeologists was whether or not the rice used by Khok Phanom Di was actively cultivated or simply growing wild. One theory that was suggested was that the society was simply a hunting/gathering culture that traded with inland farmers. There were a significant number of fishhooks to support this theory, but there were also many worn and polished shells that appeared to be farming tools. The development of farming tools appeared later in the lifespan of the culture, and for the majority of its existence Khok Phanom Di's inhabitants were broad spectrum hunter gatherers. Nearby sites such as Nong Nor showed no evidence of rice, but similarities in pottery and stone tools suggested trading.
Khok Phanom Di had a definite stratification system. One of the most interesting graves unearthed was a relatively well preserved skeleton of what appeared to be a princess. Buried with her were numerous shell bracelets, shoulder pieces, and a cape embroidered with 120,000 shell beads. The graves directly on top of hers, which are postulated to be her offspring, had much less elaborate goods buried with them, suggesting a merit system rather than an inheirted system of power. There was differential treatment in the graves of males and females as well.
Owing in large part to the proximity of both a large freshwater supply and the sea itself, the average diet consisted chiefly of shellfish, other seafood, and rice. During the majority of the burial phases, the people of Khok Phanom Di had an average life expectancy of 30 years (discounting the high infant death rate.) Most of the population died from either malaria, anemia or parasites. Early graves were disorganized, but over time all the burials were congregated and faced east.
Out of the 154 graves found at the site, there are at least 7 distinct mortuary phases. During the first phase, people were taller and tended to have worn teeth. During the second phase the infant mortality rate was approximately 55%, and males tended to display degeneration on one side, likely from paddling canoes. In the third phase, people were taller than ever, but the high infant death rate and uneven joint wear persisted. By the fourth phase, people were dying earlier, but joint degeneration and teeth wear greatly decreased. The previously mentioned princess skeleton was determined to be from the fourth mortuary phase. In successive phases, there was an increase in grave wealth, but people tended to be shorter than the previous generations. General patterns of high child and infant mortality rates, as well as a low average life expectancy, continued throughout the final mortuary phases.
"Anth 203: East and Southeast Asian Archaeology" University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand http://www.otago.ac.nz/Anthropology/ (4 Apr. 00)
"Ice Mummies: Reading the Remains" Nova Online http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/icemummies/remains.html (4 Apr. 00)
"Khok Phanom Di: Prehistoric Adaptation to the World's Richest Habitat" Harcourt College http://www.harcourtcollege.com/books/0-15-500951-6/ (4 Apr. 00)
Conrad Derus