Ban Chiang: Discovery of a Lost Bronze Age (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1984 November 9 - 1985 January 28

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened in November 9, 1984 and closed January 28, 1985. Located in Section 4, Floor 1 in Gallery 1 at the American Museum of Natural History. "Ban Chiang: Discovery of a Lost Bronze Age" was an exhibition of some 200 artifacts from a previously unknown prehistoric society in northeast Thailand.

Summary

"Ban Chiang: Discovery of a Lost Bronze Age" was an exhibition of some 200 artifacts from a previously unknown prehistoric society in northeast Thailand. At least 150 artifacts from the excavation site, as well as additional artifacts from the National Museum in Thailand, were on view. Included were examples of red-on-buff pottery; bronze tools, ornaments and weapons; rare glass beads and necklaces; and animal bones and natural materials to illustrate the ancient ecology. The exhibit also gave the viewer insight into the excavation process through the use of life-size models of burial sites and photographs of the excavation process. The use of pottery and other artifacts in burial sites was also examined. Ban Chiang was excavated in 1974 and 1975 under the codirection of Chester Gorman of the University of Pennsylvania's University Museum and Pisit Charoenwongsa of the Thai Fine Arts Department. The exhibition curator for the Museum was Laurel Kendall, the then assistant curator in the Department of Anthropology. Guest curator the exhibit was Joyce C. White, a then research associate, University Museum, University of Pennsylvania. "Ban Chiang" was jointly organized by the National Museums Division, Fine Arts Department of Thailand; the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service; and the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania. Support was provided by the Pew Memorial Trust, Philadelphia; the Thai Farmer's Bank; the Sukum Navapam Foundation; the Siam Commercial Bank in Bangkok; the Ford Foundation; Pan American World Airways; the Asian Cultural Council in New York, and the Union Oil Company of California Foundation. The exhibit was on view in Gallery 1 of the American Museum of Natural History from November 9, 1984 through January 28, 1985. After its showing at the Museum, the exhibit traveled to the Museum of Natural History of Los Angeles County.

Individuals and institutions involved in the creation of the exhibition: Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services; National Museums Division, Fine Arts Department of Thailand; the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania; Lauel Kendall; Joyce C. White; AMNH Department of Anthropology

Sources

American Museum of Natural History Press Release, May 15, 1984. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

N.Y. Times 12/11/84.

Saturday Review, May-June 1985.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 1.
Location of exhibition.

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