Elizabeth H. Moore and the Making of Regional Archaeology in Mainland Southeast Asia

Pipad Krajaejun

This article examines the scholarly contributions of Elizabeth H. Moore to the study of Southeast Asian archaeology, with particular attention to her role in integrating the archaeology of Myanmar into broader regional discussions. For much of the twentieth century, archaeological research in Myanmar was often framed within national historiography or treated in isolation from wider debates on early states and cultural landscapes in mainland Southeast Asia. Moore’s work challenged this fragmentation by situating Pyu urban centres such as Sri Ksetra and Beikthano within regional networks of early urbanism, moated settlements, and landscape management. Through comparative approaches, her research helped place Myanmar in dialogue with archaeological traditions associated with Dvaravati, Funan, and other early polities of the region, thereby contributing to a more interconnected understanding of early Southeast Asian history. Beyond her academic publications, Moore also played a significant role in fostering international scholarly collaboration, particularly in the post‑Cold War period when research access in parts of Southeast Asia gradually expanded. Through her institutional affiliations and mentorship, she facilitated exchanges between scholars based in Europe and archaeologists working in Myanmar. This article argues that Moore can be understood not only as a leading archaeologist of Myanmar but also as an academic diplomat, whose efforts helped build intellectual networks that reshaped the study of mainland Southeast Asian archaeology in the late twentieth and early twenty‑first centuries.