Who Owns the Past? Living Heritage, Local Communities, and Archaeological Authority at Sap Champa (Central Thailand)

Nicolas Revire

The archaeological site of Sap Champa in central Thailand is widely recognized for its early Buddhist remains, including sculptural and architectural fragments attributed to the Dvāravatī period (c. 7th - 8th centuries CE). Yet the site also illustrates the complex dynamics that emerge when archaeological heritage remains embedded within a living sacred and social landscape. While many artifacts from Sap Champa have entered museum collections in Thailand and abroad – including in the United States - raising questions of provenance and past looting, the site itself continues to attract local tourism and community engagement. At the same time, tensions occasionally arise between local communities and central Thai authorities, particularly the Fine Arts Department, whose conservation policies often prioritise archaeological control and monument protection. This paper explores how local stakeholders have sought to assert greater involvement in the management and interpretation of their heritage. In particular, community initiatives advocating for the creation of a local exhibition hall reflect a growing desire to retain and present archaeological materials within the local cultural landscape. Similar initiatives have emerged at nearby sites in Lopburi province, such as Ban Pong Manao and Promthin Tai. By examining these developments, this paper highlights how living heritage frameworks must address not only community continuity but also questions of authority, ownership, and local stewardship in the management of archaeological sites.