 The
history of Thailand as a nation dates back almost 800 years,
from the foundation of the Sukhothai kingdom in the 13th century
(1238 AD). It was then that the Thais were first united as
a nation and which marked the Thai as a distinct people.
But
in fact, the history of the land currently defined by the
borders of Thailand, stretches back much further to the pre-historic
era. Many discoveries unearthed and excavated in several parts
of Thailand give strong evidence that a highly civilized people
once inhabited the region.
Several
Stone Age settlements have been excavated, notable among them
are Ban Kao in Kanchanaburi province and Non Nok in Khon Kaen
province. The most important archeological site of early Thai
civilization is at Ban Chiang village, in Udon Thani province
in the northeastern part of Thailand. Excavations have uncovered
painted pottery, jewelry and bronze and iron tools dating
from about 3600 BC. The settlement seems to have lasted until
around 250 BC, after which the people mysteriously faded from
history. The people at Ban Chiang comprised only one of the
cradles of Asian civilization and an area that was inhabited
for thousands of years before the emergence of the first Thai
state.
After
the disappearance of the Ban Chiang civilization, the area
was influenced by various cultures from India in the 3rd century,
the Mons between the 6th and 10th centuries, and the Khmers
who built the wondrous Angkor Wat and left their legacy in
the form of numerous stone sanctuaries scattered across the
Thai kingdom. But it was not until the Sukhothai kingdom was
established that the Thai people were unified.
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