S35-1

Cultural Dynamics and the Log Coffin Culture at Long Long Rak Cave in Highland Pang Mapha, Northwest Thailand

Department of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, Thailand

Research on the Log coffin culture in highland Pang Mapha, Mae Hong Son province, northwest Thailand has entered a new and exciting stage with new results from archaeological and DNA analyses from Long Long Rak cave enhancing our understanding of chronological and community relationships. This presentation outlines the results of the recent archaeological investigations at Long Long Rak, highlighting several important implications of this research related to ethnic diversity, migration, cultural dynamics, and the finer-grained chronological sequencing of what appears to be a kin group cemetery. The 5 Phases cemetery were likely utilized for burial over a period of 464 years (ca. 2100-1600 B.P.). In addition, a combination of archaeological, osteological, ethnographic and genetic evidence indicate interactions occurred in the highlands of Northwest Thailand between local populations and new groups entering the region from South China. This presentation provides new insight into the cultural complexity of the log coffin culture in Mae Hong Son province and a possible northwestern migration route.