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Resources for Southeast Asian Archaeology

To cite this page: Tan, Noel Hidalgo (2006, Updated 08 September 2024) Digital Resources for Southeast Asian Archaeology. Southeast Asian Archaeology. Available at: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/resources/
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Research Resources

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Below is a list of Southeast Asian archaeology resources for researchers that I have put together. As a researcher myself, I am acutely aware of the need for quality resources and I hope you find it useful. As always, I am happy to receive suggestions and additions to these lists – you can do so through the contact me page or by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

Journals

Research papers published in journals represent the primary source of archaeological information, because they are a permanent record of knowledge. These papers are usually scrutinised by other researchers before publication in order to ensure that the research is novel, significant and methodologically sound.

Over the past few decades, there has been a rise in academic papers being published across all disciplines (you can see an example of this in my rock art bibliography, comparing the amount of research produced from 2010 onwards, to the time before). While part of the rise reflects more interest in archaeology, a large part is due to the “publish or perish” mentality, which drives researchers to publish more work to meet KPIs, qualify for promotions, or obtaining bounties for publishing work. Digital publishing and print-on-demand technologies have also made it much easier for anyone to start an academic journal. Predatory journals, which on the surface look like legitimate scientific journals, promise a fast review turnaround and gaurantee publication for a fee. Using predatory journals and other dubious techniues, unethical researchers can, and have, gamed the system in order to artificially boost their research output. Not only is such behaviour unethical, it can be be criminally fraudulent.

As such, it is important to assess academic journals and research papers against a number of factors, including:

  • Peer review policy: probably the most important factor in the quality of a journal, because scrutiny by qualified experts can point out potential issues like factual inaccuracies,  problems of methodology and offer constructive comments that would make the final paper better. Review practices vary from journal to journal (eg. double blind vs single blind), but beware of journals that do not offer a peer review policy, or promise a fast review time – these are red flags.
  • Overall quality papers in the journal: self explanatory, but be cautious of journals that do not have clear editorial guidelines, or carry papers with inconsistent quality or papers that do not match the focus of the journal.
  • Age of the journal and frequency of publication: older journals tend to be more reputable, along with journals that publish multiple issues a year (which suggests that the journal gets more submissions).
  • Editorial board: is the board composed of recognised experts in the journal’s field of expertise? Where possible, double check with the members of the editorial board about their involvement. Some disreputable journals add names into the editorial board without consent or even make up names.
  • Whether the journal is indexed in a database: A citation database (also called a journal index or bibliographic database is a collection of journals, often focused around a specific theme, eg Medline for medical journals or DOAJ for Open Access journals. Generally, journals that are indexed are considered higher quality than non-indexed ones because indexes have an international selection committee and very specific criteria for inclusion. For example, a journal indexed in Scopus needs to be international, peer-reviewed, and have an ethics and publication malpractice statement at the very minimum. Anecdotally, some colleauges have reported that their research output doesn’t “count” unless it is published in journals indexed by Web of Science by Clarivate or Scopus by Elsevier. Some countries also maintain their own citation indexes, such as the Thai Journal Citation Index and the Malaysian Citation Index.

Just because a journal is not indexed does not make it a bad journal. There are good reasons why a journal may not be indexed in a major index such as having a limited regional scope, or not being published in English. In those cases, more attention should be paid to the other factors listed above.

The list below are journals relevant to Southeast Asian Archaeology: they are archaeology journals published by institutions located in Southeast Asia; journals that have historically published archaeological research relevant to Southeast Asia; or are international archaeology journals that often publish research about Southeast Asia. (I myself was previously the editor of an international academic journal as part of my day job at SEAMEO SPAFA: the SPAFA Journal publishes research about the archaeology and fine (traditional) arts of Southeast Asia.) A number of these journals are indexed in Scopus, while some have a very specific region or language focus and are considered specialty journals. I have previously commented on how there is a bias towards English as the language of science and technology, which makes the dissemination of knowledge difficult in a region where English is not the main language. Ultimately, journals are run by humans and may evolve over time, so it is important to periodically check their quality against reputable indexes and against their own publication record. These are links to external sites and unless stated, I have no connection with the organisations or entities in these links or control over their content. If you have a suggestion for a journal that is not on the list, please let me know.

  • Amerta – [In Bahasa] Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengembangan Arkeologi merupakan sarana publikasi dan informasi hasil penelitian dan pengembangan di bidang arkeologi dan ilmu terkait. Amerta diterbitkan oleh Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
  • Ancient India – the Bulletin of the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • Asian Archaeology – Publishes articles on all aspects of Asian Archaeology
  • Asian Culture and History – Published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education, Asian Culture and History covers topics such as culture, history, arts, anthropology, archaeology, religion, and linguistics.
  • Asian Perspectives – Asian Perspectives is a peer-reviewed journal focusing on the archaeology of Asia and the Pacific region. Articles are Open Access, but are embargoed for the two most recent years.
  • Antiquity – Covering world archaeology, but of recent years has featured many Southeast Asian papers.
  • Archaeological Research in Asia – Archaeological Research in Asia presents high quality scholarly research conducted in between the Bosporus and the Pacific on a broad range of archaeological subjects of importance to audiences across Asia and around the world.
  • Berkala Arkeologi – Berkala Arkeologi is a biannual journal by Balai Arkeologi D.I. Yogyakarta. This journal seeks to promote archaeological research, as well as to share those research to the public.
  • Berkala Arkeologi Sangkhakala – Berkala Arkeologi Sangkhakala is a peer-reviewed journal published biannual by the Balai Arkeologi Sumatera Utara in May and November. Berkala Arkeologi Sangkhakala aims to publish research papers, reviews and studies covering the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, history, ethnography, and culture in general.
  • Bulletin de l’ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient – One of the oldest Asian studies journals, BEFEO publishes in French and English. Archives available from 1901-2003.
  • Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association – Another international peer-reviewed journal for archaeology in Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Pacific. Journal is open access.
  • Damrong – The archaeology journal of Silpakorn University.
  • Forum Arkeologi – Forum Arkeologi Journal as a media for disseminating various information related to culture in the past, based on the results of archaeological research and cultural scientific studies. Forum Arkeologi Journal is a scientific journal published by Balai Arkeologi Bali.
  • Hukay – The journal of the University of the Philippines’ Archaeological Studies Programme.
  • Indonesia (Journal) – From the website: “Indonesia Journal”, is a semi-annual journal devoted to the timely study of Indonesia’s culture, history, government, economy, and society. It features original scholarly articles, interviews, translations, and book reviews. Published since April 1966, the journal provides area scholars and interested readers with contemporary analysis of Indonesia and an extensive archive of research pertaining to the nation and region. The journal is published by Cornell University’s Southeast Asia Program.” Articles dated before 2000 are available free for download.
  • Journal of Burma Studies – One of the few peer-reviewed journals focusing on Myanmar.
  • Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society – Originally Journal of the Straits Branch, and then Malayan Branch and now the Straits Branch, the journal first published in 1878 and contains many scholarly articles on the culture, history and archaeology of Malaysia and its peoples.
  • Journal of the Siam Society – Established in 1904, the Journal of the Siam Society publishes original scholarly articles in English pertaining to Thailand. Articles are Open Access from 1904 – 2011.
  • Jurnal Arkeologi Malaysia – [In Bahasa] Jurnal Arkeologi Malaysia (JAM) diterbitkan dua kali setahun pada bulan April dan September oleh Ikatan Ahli Arkeologi Malaysia dengan kerjasama Kumpulan Penyelidikan Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Peradaban Melayu (KKPM), Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
  • Jurnal Tomotowa – [In Bahasa] Jurnal Tumotowa merupakan sarana publikasi dan informasi hasil penelitian dan pengembangan di bidang arkeologi dan ilmu terkait. Jurnal Tumotowa diterbitkan oleh Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi Utara, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
  • Kapata Arkeologi – Kapata Arkeologi is an open access, peer-reviewed journal published and imprinted by Balai Arkeologi Maluku under direction Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kemdikbud.
  • Kalpataru – [In Bahasa] KALPATARU, Majalah Arkeologi adalah publikasi ilmiah yang diterbitkan oleh Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. Jurnal ini bertujuan untuk menerbitkan artikel-artikel ilmiah bersifat tematik hasil penelitian dan pengembangan terkini dalam bidang arkeologi seperti kimia, biologi, geologi, paleontologi, dan antropologi.
  • Muang Boran Journal – A journal dealing with Thai Archaeology.
  • Naditira Widya – One of the publications of Balai Arkeologi Kalimantan Selatan (Banjarmasin Institute of Archaeology) that broadcast the results of archaeological research and development with regard to ideas and researches of researchers, academics, students or observers of archaeological and cultural heritage issues which will be of benefit to the public.
  • Papua – Journal of Papua is published twice a year in June and November by the Balai Arkeologi Papua. The Papua Journal contains the results of research, conceptual ideas, studies and the application of theory relating to archaeology.
  • Persée – Digital Open Access library of French scholarly journals
  • Pratu – the Journal of Buddhist and Hindu Art, Architecture and Archaeology of Ancient to Premodern Southeast Asia is an initiative of a group of research students in the Department of History of Art and Archaeology at SOAS University of London in collaboration with departmental mentors. The journal is funded by the Alphawood Foundation, under the auspices of the Southeast Asian Art Academic Programme (SAAAP).
  • Purbawidya – Purbawidya publishes original research articles, review articles and case studies focused on Archaeological research and development.
  • Sarawak Museum Journal – Established in 1911, the official journal of the Sarawak Museum and dedicated to the the natural and human sciences of Borneo in particular.
  • Siddhayatra – Siddhayatra is a peer-reviewed journal of archaeological study which is managed by Editorial Boards of Archaeological Service Office for South Sumatera.
  • Siksacakr – Siksacakr: The Journal of Cambodia Research, a peer-reviewed journal (articles are submitted to members of the editorial board and anonymously reviewed by external referees), aims to bridge the worlds of Khmer, Francophone and Anglophone scholarship on Cambodia. Siksacakr stands for the “Wheel of Knowledge”, reflecting the journal’s role in both circulating new scholarship and turning the wheels of access and scholarly communication.
  • South East Asian Review – The South East Asian Review is an interdisciplinary research journal which welcomes articles from social-science, humanitites, traditional medicine, flora and fauna of the Southeast Asian region.
  • Southeast Asian Archaeology Repository of Knowledge – A repository maintained by the Nalanda-Sriwajaya Centre hosting published and unpublished reports on Southeast Asian archaeology.
  • SPAFA Journal – The journal of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre of Archaeology and Fine Arts (SPAFA). Page links to four micro-sites, the current SPAFA Journal, the old SPAFA Journal (1991-2013), the SPAFA Digest (1980-1990) and various SPAFA Publications. [Disclosure: I serve as the Managing Editor for the SPAFA Journal in as part of my duties at SEAMEO SPAFA]
  • Udaya – Udaya was founded in 2000 by Ang Chouléan and Ashley Thompson as the official research publication of the Department of Culture and Monuments of the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA), a then nascent interministerial organ of the Cambodian government.
  • Wacana – the Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia is a scholarly journal of the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia, and is a medium for scholarly discussion, description, and surveys concerning literature, linguistics, archaeology, history, philosophy, library and information studies, religion, art, and interdisciplinary studies. The journal is published twice a year.
  • WalennaE – WalennaE Journal is published by Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi Selatan as a way of publication and information on research results in the archaeology and related sciences. This journal is intended for the development of science as a reference that can be accessed by researchers, students, and the general public.

Online Lecture Library

The Online Lecture Library is a compilation during the Covid-19 pandemic when many talks and presentations were made online. These are all freely-available lectures and presentations on the web. Most of them are found on YouTube and Facebook and are in English. Owing to the large and ever-growing number of lectures, I’ve put them in a table format, and you can sort them by date, speaker, title or region/country of focus. There is also a very useful search function just for this table. This list is updated periodically, with newest lectures at the top.  If you are aware of any lectures that are not on the list, especially if they are not in English, please drop me an email or leave a comment so that I can update the list.

Data Repositories

  • AATA Online – Run by the Getty Conservation Institutue, AATA Online is a free research database containing abstracts of literature related to the preservation and conservation of material cultural heritage.
  • Academia.edu – A social network for academics. Many academics choose to store a copy of their research on their profile page, so if you find a paper that is pay-walled, you might possibly find the author here and request a copy direct from them.
  • Angkor Archive – Digital archive run by the Angkor International Center of Documentation of the APSARA Authority.
  • Angkor Database – Online resource by MAADS Living Cambodia in association with Templation Angkor Hotel Siem Reap, holding a collection of digital and print books about Angkor.
  • Antique Maps, Views and Plans featuring the Kessler Collection – A collection of maps of the Asia-Pacific region dating from the 17th century in the Australian National University Open Research collection.
  • Archaeological Ethics Database – This database is an ongoing project by the Register of Professional Archaeologists (the Register) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). The goal of the database is to bring together sources on archaeological ethics in a single place for the use of students, researchers, and professional archaeologists.
  • ArThemis – Database by the University of Geneva containing case notes about art and cultural property disputes settled through alternative resolution methods or traditional judicial proceedings.
  • Atlas of Mutual Heritage – A database with information, maps, drawings, prints and paintings of locations related to the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC) and the West-Indische Compagnie (WIC).
  • Banyan – EFEO’s Digital Library with over 10,000 documents online.
  • Charles Higham’s Excavation Records: Prof. Charles Higham has made his excavation records of Ban Lum Khao, Ban Na Di, Ban Non Wat, Khok Phanom Di, Noen U-Loke, Non Ban Jak, Non Muang Kao anf Nong Nor publicly available for re-use (with attribution).
  • A Chinese Gazetteer of Foreign Lands: A new translation of Part 1 of the Zhufan zhi 諸蕃志 (1225) by Shao-yun Yang
  • Chinese Historical Place Name Directory – A website by Academia Sinica with a searchable database of Chinese toponyms from the Ming Dynasty to present.
  • The Corpus of the Inscriptions of Campā – The Corpus of the Inscriptions of Campā is a publication of the École française d’Extrême-Orient, realized in collaboration with the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University. This project aims to recover, preserve, study and make accessible the corpus of inscriptions of ancient Campā (in present Việt Nam), written either in Sanskrit or in Old Cam.
  • Cultural Map of Thailand – Interactive map showing this different kinds of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Thailand.
  • The Database of the Restoration Work of the Southern Library of Bayon – By a collaboration between Japan and the APSARA Authority.
  • Digital Historical Maps of Southeast Asia – Online resource by Yale-NUS collecting pre-1900 maps
  • Digital Library of Lao Manuscripts – Containing images of over 12,000 Lao texts made available for study. Collaboration by  the National Library of Laos, the University of Passau, and the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz
  • Digitising Thai-Mon palm-leaf manuscripts – A project under the British Endangered Archives Programme, a collection of scanned palm-leaf manuscripts.
  • DREAMSEA – Online repository of Southeast Asian Manuscripts  by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, Indonesia, in cooperation with the Centre for the Study of Manuscripts Culture (CSMC), University of Hamburg, Germany.
  • EFEO Archives – Website of the physical archives of the École française d’Extrême-Orient in Paris, but they also have a sizeable collection of digital collections available to view online.
  • EFEO Image archives – Archival images collected by the École française d’Extrême-Orient, available online.
  • Endangered Archives Programme – Global digitisation programme hosted by the British Library, with Southeast Asian collections.
  • E. Moore Library – The E.Moore Library is a specialist collection focusing on the art, archaeology, anthropology, history and religion of Southeast Asia and neighbouring regions.
  • France-Vietnam des patrimoines partagés en ligne – Online repository of shared French and Vietnamese documentary heritage, a collaboration between the National Libraries of France and Vietnam.
  • Global Rock Art Database – A global database of rock art sites and projects run by PERAHU, Griffith University in Australia
  • Globalise – Online project by the Huygens Institute and partners to digitise the archives of the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC)
  • Google Scholar – Google’s search engine for academic research.
  • H. Otley Beyer Ethnographic Collection – Digital collection hosted by the National Library of the Philippines
  • Historical Ecology of the Mekong in a set of 5 diachronic maps – Open Access map by Marko Kallio and Veronica Walker Vadillo
  • ICOMOS Documentation Centre – The ICOMOS Documentation Centre is the primary repository for the original documentation of the cultural and mixed (natural and cultural) properties that have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1978.
  • Khastara – An online database of the National Library of Indonesia featuring collections related to the Nusantara region.
  • Khmer Inscriptions Program – Online database of K-inscriptions. In French.
  • Lan Sunnary Sound Archives – Page in French, sound recordings by Lan Sunnary, a Khmer student at the Faculty of Archeology of the Royal University of Fine Arts of Phnom Penh and refugee in France in 1970. His recordings capture lectures by Pou Saveros and Bernard Philippe Groslier.
  • Malay Concordance Project – A searchable corpus of classical Malay texts.
  • MERAL Portal – The MERAL Portal provides free and open access to research publications (from international and local journals, theses, conference papers, etc.) and to teaching and learning materials from Universities in Myanmar.
  • Mao Kun Explorer – Visual guide to the 15th century Mao Kun map which stretches from China to the Indian Ocean.
  • Museum of Stone Tools – Online repository of scans of stone tools from around the world, including some examples from Indonesia.
  • Navanurak นวนุรักษ์ – Digital database by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) documenting the natural and cultural heritage of Thailand.
  • Peter Brown’s Australian and Asian Palaeoanthropolgy Page – Resource page by Prof. Peter Brown, containing resources from Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia.
  • Persée – Digital Open Access library of French scholarly journals
  • The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) is the repository of all information pertaining to cultural properties in the Philippines deemed significant to Philippine cultural heritage. It was established through Article V Section 4 of the National Heritage Act of 2009 Republic Act 10066.
  • Primary Sources: History of Burma – Collection of links to historical primary sources related to Burma (Myanmar)
  • Primary Sources: History of the Malay World – Collection of links to historical primary sources related to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei
  • Researching Colonial History of the Malay World like a Millennial – Comprehensive list of digial resources curated by Simon Soon of the Cultural Centre, University of Malaya.
  • Researchgate.net – Another social network for academics and a potential way to get papers that are paywalled by contacting them directly, if they have a profile on this page.
  • SahulArch – A database for archaeology dates (radioncarbon, OSL, TL) across the Sahul shelf.
  • SEA-ARK – This resource page disseminates published and unpublished reports pertinent to the pursuit of Southeast Asian Archaeology. Hosted in the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre (now Temasek History Research Centre) in the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore
  • Silpakorn Online – The digital center for the Fine Arts Department of Thailand, where you can access and download publications and materials.
  • South and Southeast Asian Art and Archaeology Index (ABIA) – The ABIA Project is a global network of scholars co-operating on an annotated bibliographic database for publishers covering South and Southeast Asian art and archaeology.
  • Southeast Asian Archaeological Site Reports – Technical data repository run by NUS Press, with site reports from Singapore and Indonesia
  • Southeast Asia in the Ming Shi-Lu – The Ming Shi-Lu is an open access resource to the annals of Ming China (1368 – 1644), in which place names and polities in Southeast Asia is featured greatly.
  • Southeast Asian Archaeology Bibliographic Database – funded by the Henry Luce foundation and hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Museum, this website offers a web-based bibliography and a skeletal database.
  • Southeast Asian Images & Text – A collection of teaching and research resources put together by the people at the University of Wisconsin. Contains a section of images of Angkor Wat.
  • Southeast Asian Newspapers – Online resource by the Center for Research Libraries, incorporating 19-20th century newspapers from several countries in Southeast Asia.
  • The Southeast Asian Treasure Connection – A website about shipwrecks, underwater treasure hunting and archaeology.
  • Spatial Discovery – A collection of over 3,000 maps from the last 200 years organised by the National Library of Singapore.
  • A Structured Corpus of Old Burmese Stone Inscriptions – This dataset is a structured corpus of Old Burmese stone inscriptions, largely based on material from the dataset ရှေးဟောင်းမြန်မာကျောက်စာများ Ancient Burmese Inscriptions, with additional material by Thein Tun and Tilman Frasch.
  • UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws
  • Unesco Policy Monitoring Forum – The platform displays 2107 policies and measures from Periodic Reports of 102 countries submitted between 2012 and 2019.
  • UNESCO World Heritage List – Alphabetical list of the World Heritage Sites on the UNESCO register.
  • University of Hawaii collections on Southeast Asian Art and Archaeology – Open Access and digitised out of print books related to Southeast Asian Art and Archaeology.

Project Websites

Some researchers set up project websites or blogs when starting a new archaeological project. The project pages usually link to external sites that were active at the time of posting; sometimes websites may be temporarily down or may have reorganised their underlying architecture or have even closed down – in these cases the links may not be available.

  • Angkor 360° – Virtual Angkor is a collaboration between archaeologists, historians and Virtual History specialists based in Australia, Cambodia and the United States.
  • Angkor Research Program – An “international, multidisciplinary research programme interested in the decline of urbanism at Angkor”. The project is coordinated by the University of Sydney.
  • Archaeological Projects in Cambodia – A list of past and current projects in the kingdom run by Alison Carter.
  • Aung Nan Heritage – 3D visualisation of the Aung Nan heritage site in Magwe, Myanmar, a 19th century village.
  • The Ban Chiang Project – Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, the Ban Chiang Project is a comprehensive website about Ban Chiang with the aims: “to introduce newcomers to the fascinating archaeological discoveries at Ban Chiang; and second, to keep our friends and colleagues informed on our progress”.
  • Banda Islands Archaeology Website – An archaeology project in the Banda Islands in East Indonedia led by the University of Washington and Gadjah Mada University to uncover the archaeology of this region.
  • Banda Islands Field School Blog – A blog run by the students and instructors attending an 8-week field school at the Banda Islands in early 2009.
  • Cambodian Archaeological Lidar Initiative – Project website of the Lidar imaging programme.
  • The Cultured Rainforest Project – is headed by the University of Cambridge to investigate the people of the Kelabit Highlands and their interactions with the forest in the present and past.
  • Cultural Map of Thailand – Cultural mapping project developed by the Programme Management Unit for Area-based Development (PMU-A) under the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council.
  • Early Central Borneo Project – The Early Central Borneo Project is a collaborative research-community archaeology and heritage project investigating the prehistory of central Borneo. Facebook page.
  • The Giganto Project – Chinese-Australian project looking for the hominid Gigantopithescus blacki
  • Gua Tambun Heritage Awareness Project – An interactive and collaborative platform that aims to promote public awareness and appreciation for Gua Tambun Prehistoric Rock Art, under the auspices of Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR) affiliated to University Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang.
  • Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Mapha District, Mea Hong Son Province Phase 2 – a multidisciplinary archaeological project investigating the different cultures from ancient times to present in in Northwest Thailand.
  • HOPSea – The Human Origins Patrimony in Southeast Asia, a multinational collaboration between European and Southeast Asian partners.
  • Ifugao Archaeological Project – A collaborative research program of the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement, Inc., National Museum of the Philippines, Archaeological Studies Program-University of the Philippines, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
  • IRAW@BAGAN – Project website for the Integrated Socio-Ecological History for Residential Patterning, Agricultural Practices, and Water Management at the Medieval Burmese Capital of Bagan, Myanmar.
  • Lao-UNESCO Programme for “Safeguarding the Plain of Jars”
  • LoRAP – The Italian Thai Lopburi Regional Archaeological Project, under the aegis of the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies and the Thai Fine Arts Department.
  • MaP Fund – The mission of the MAP Fund is to promote and support the development, advancement of and research in maritime archaeology and the protection and investigation of underwater cultural heritage, including the publication and dissemination of research, with a focus on the Asia and the Pacific region, in particular Australia and the ASEAN countries. Facebook page.
  • Mapping Philippine Material Culture – This digital humanities project is a visual inventory of Philippine objects dating to the mid-20th century which are in holdings of museums and private collections outside of the Philippines.
  • Maritime Asia Heritage Survey – Research project by the University of Oxford and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
  • Middle Mekong Archaeology Project – Directed by Dr Joyce White of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, MMAP is the project site of a survey of a portion of the Mekong river in Laos.
  • Mission Archéologique Française au Myanmar – Public page of the Mission Archéologique Française au Myanmar (“MAFM”), a collaboration between the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the Myanmar Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.
  • Myanmar-Singapore Archaeology Training Project (MSATP) – Project site hosted under NUS Press, focusing on ceramics. In English and Burmese.
  • The Niah Cave Project – An archaeological project by the University of Leicester.
  • On Fire Archaeology – Experimental archaeological project replicating Angkorian kilns and ceramics.
  • Origins of Angkor Archaeological Project – Directed by Professor Charles Higham, the Origins of Angkor project is a “multi-disciplinary research project being undertaken by the University of Otago Department of Anthropology and the Fine Arts Department of Thailand. The aim of the project is to assess the seminal aspects of the social, cultural and technological development in the Mun River valley of Northeast Thailand”.
  • Papuan Past Project – The Papuan Past project combines archaeological and genomic approaches to explore the modalities of human population settlement and adaptation – biological, cultural and technical evolution – over the last 50 000 years.
  • PEMSEA (Program for Early Modern Southeast Asia) – Project website for a collaboration between the University of California-Los Angeles, University of Hawaii-Manoa, and the University of Washington.
  • Philippine Archaeology @ UCLA – Philippine archaeology projects run from the archaeology program at UCLA.
  • Plain of Jars Archaeological Project – Lao/Australian archaeological research at the Plain of Jars, Xieng Khouang Province, Lao PDR. Led by the MoICT, ANU and Monash and funded by the ARC. Facebook page.
  • The Ports and Harbours of Southeast Asia – Project analyzing the mechanisms upon which the shipping network of the Southeast Asian branch of the Maritime Silk Road developed from a regional to a trans-regional network where goods.
  • Project Avenger – An archaeological project to identify World War II aircraft crash sites in Hong Kong.
  • P’teah Cambodia – A archaeology project directed by Drs Miriam Stark and Alison Carter investigating the archaeology of households and non-elites in Cambodia.
  • Public Archaeology at Fort Cornwallis – An initiative by the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC) and University Sains Malaysia (USM). Facebook page.
  • Southeast Asian Archaeology Lab – Headed by Stephen Acabado at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA.
  • SUNDASIA – Project exploring how prehistoric tropical communities adapted to cycles of coastal inundation over the last 60,000 years in northern Vietnam, and how these data can help inform models and responses to modern climate-induced rising seas in this region.
  • Tanah Datar Archaeological Project – An excavation blog for the Tanah Datar Archaeological Project, running from 1 March – 8 April 2012, by Universitas Indonesia and the Frei Universität Berlin.
  • Telling Stones – Megaliths on Sumatra – Research project by the Frei Universität Berlin studying megaliths in Sumatra and their social context.
  • University of Oregon Southeast Asian Archaeology Lab – The Southeast Asian Archaeology lab dedicated to studying the archaeology of Southeast Asia, and especially the archaeology of the Angkorian civilization in Cambodia.
  • Vietnam Maritime Archeology Project – To promote Underwater Cultural Heritage and Maritime Archeology in Vietnam. Facebook page.
  • Wat Krachee Conservation Project – Joint project between Unesco Bangkok and the Fine Arts Department of Thailand to restore traditional wisdom for the preservation of traditional Thai architecture for the conservation of world heritage sites. Facebook page.

Laws and Legislation

Most countries in the region has some sort of law regulating the practice of archaeology, excavations and the export of artefacts, although the enforcement and oversight vary. This page draws from a number of useful databases and guides to legislation on the internet. Please use with caution and appopriate judgement: as far as possible, I’ve tried to link to the actual text from the official law repository of the country, but please note that some documents are not in English, and no official English translation may be available. Documents are listed by country and year.

Brunei

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Timor Leste

Vietnam

International Agreements and Charters

Legislation Repositories

Studying Archaeology

2021 update: The listings here are a little out of date and in a seperate project I mapped out the archaeology education landscape in Southeast Asia. You can read the report here. It lays out the places that people go to for an education in archaeology, within and outside of Southeast Asia.

Thinking of pursuing an education in Archaeology, particularly with the focus on Southeast Asia? Here are some places to look up. The pages link to external sites that were active at the time of posting; sometimes websites may be temporarily down or may have reorganised their underlying architecture or have even closed down – in these cases the links may not be available. Unless stated, I have no connection with the organisations or entities in these links or control over their content.

One new resource that has appeared is curated by the Association of Southeast Asian Studies (UK), who has a list of institutions across the world with a department focused on Southeast Asian studies. This directory is aimed primarily at prospective graduate students.

Australia

Indonesia

  • Gadjah Mada University – The Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences offers programmes in archaeology from undergraduate all the way to doctoral level. Website is in Indonesian.

Malaysia

Philippines

  • Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines – The Archaeological Studies Program (ASP) at the University of the Philippines Diliman was established on August 24, 1995. Multidisciplinary in nature, ASP is designed to oversee and coordinate instructional, rese arch and extension activities pertaining to the systematic discovery, reclamation, analysis, presentation and preservation of the material remains of past cultures.

Thailand

  • Silpakorn University – Most of the website is in Thai (which I don’t read), but their graduate school offers MAs in historical archaeology and prehistoric archaeology.

United Kingdom

United States

Teaching Resources

  • The Art of South and Southeast Asia, A Resource for Educators – Hosted on The Met and supported by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation.
  • GETSEA – The Graduate Education and Training in Southeast Asian Studies (GETSEA) consortium was formed with the mission of enhancing graduate education in Southeast Asian studies across North America.

Organisations and Institutions

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This is a list of organisations that have are related to archaeological work or cultural heritage practice with a relevance to Southeast Asia. These external links are to official websites (as opposed to social media interest groups and accounts) that were active at the time of posting; sometimes websites may be temporarily down or may have reorganised their underlying architecture or have even closed down – in these cases the links may not be available. Unless stated, I have no connection with the organisations or entities in these links or control over their content. They are sorted alphebetically in categories. If you have a link to suggest, please contact me or leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Government Organisations

International and Inter-Governmental Organisations

  • ASEAN – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional inter-governmental organisation promoting economic and political cooperation among the 10 member nation states.
  • ICCROM – International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property.
  • ICOM – The International Council of Museums.
  • ICOMOS – non-governmental international organisation dedicated to the conservation of the world’s monuments. and sites with national committees in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
  • SEAMEO-CHAT – The Regional Centre for History and Tradition under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation, based in Yangon. (Facebook page.)
  • SEAMEO-SPAFA – The Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts, under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation, based in Bangkok. [Disclosure: I work for SEAMEO SPAFA full-time as the Senior Specialist in Archaeology].
  • UNESCO – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promotes international cooperation in education, science and culture.
    • UNESCO Bangkok – Website of the Unesco office in Bangkok, which oversees Asia and the Pacific.
  • UNESCO UNITWIN Underwater Archaeology Network – The UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology aims to increase capacity in the participating countries through international cooperation.

Museums

A museum is typically a institution that seeks to collect, preserve, study, and exhibit artworks and natural objects as specimens. The term also denotes the institution within which the collection is housed. Museums typically function as research centres for their collections on concepts such as evolution and natural selection. Within the museums in Southeast Asia, particularly in the national museums, one can find archaeological and historical artefacts, artworks, and natural objects. Many of these museums are governmental organizations such as national or state museums, although few private museums exist. In some cases museums were created by public organizations but operate independently as private entities.

It is important to note that many spectacular and even important archaeological artefacts are kept in museums outside of Southeast Asia. These pieces were often taken out of their home country due to colonisation, while some have been acquired in more recent times. In more recent years, countries like Cambodia have been asserting ownership over pieces found in museums overseas, sometimes with proof of looting, and have become successful in repatriating them. At other times, museums have also been found complicit in acquiring artefacts with poor provenance records, which may often hide the fact that they have been stolen or looted.

Museums in Southeast Asia also face other challenges, such as the lack of adequate funding, political turmoil, war, lack of space, and lack of protection from natural disasters. However, the region is also rich in archaeological and historical artefacts that are an integral part of its history. Museums in this region can also face issues of having to justify the need to collect and display antiquities within their nationally-driven agendas. Many museums in Southeast Asia were created to showcase a country’s historical narrative. Visitorship is also another challenge facing museums, as museums combat the stereotype of being boring and irrelevant, or also where funding is also tied to the number of visitors. Many museums are responding to the changing tastes of visitors by curating more frequent exhibitions, or using technology to augment the visitor experience.

In 2022, the International Council of Museums approved a new definition of museum: “A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.”

Research Institutions

  • EFEO – Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient or the French School of Asian Studies has historically done a lot of research in Indochina because of its colonial links. Website is in French.
  • Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre – Research centre under the Thai Ministry of Culture promoting archaeology and its related disciplines in the country.
  • Temasek History Research Centre – The Temasek History Research Centre (THRC) was established at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in 2019. THRC will focus on Singapore’s premodern history, its economic and socio-cultural links to the region, as well as its historical role as a trading centre.
  • Vietnam Institute of Archaeology – Viện khảo cổ học is the national research institution under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Professional and Student Organisations

Scholarly Societies

  • Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association – Founded in 1929, the IPPA is dedicated to the study of prehistory of Eastern Asia (70 deg longitude) and the pacific region.
  • Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS)– Incorporating the Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (JMBRAS), that publishes occasional papers on Malaysian archaeology.
  • The Siam Society – Incorporating the Siamese Heritage Trust. The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage was established in 1904 with a mission to promote knowledge of the culture, history, arts, and natural sciences of Thailand as well as those of neighbouring countries.

Special Interest Groups and NGOs

  • Center for Southeast Asian Prehistory (CESEAP) – An non-goverment organistion working on the field of palaeoanthropology, founded by Vietnamese archaeologists.
  • Chiangmai World Heritage Initiative – Community initiative to list Chiang Mai as a World Heritage Site, which has been on the World Heritage Tentative List since 2015.
  • Henry Luce Foundation – Non-profit private foundation that provides grants in the fields of Asia, higher education, religion and theology, art, and public policy.
  • Heritage Conservation Advocates – The Heritage Conservation Advocates (HCA) campaigns for the preservation and promotion of historical and archaeological sites in Cagayan de Oro and vicinities.
  • Heritage Trust of Malaysia – Badan Warisan, or the Heritage Trust of Malaysia, is an NGO dedicated to conserving and educating about Malaysia’s built heritage.
  • Heritage Watch – Heritage Watch aims to address the problem of the trade in antiquities in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, by education campaigns, tourism campaigns and other means.
  • Institute for Southeast Asian Archaeology – ISEAA is a nonprofit organization, formed in late 2013, that builds upon a core of pioneering scholarship in Southeast Asian archaeology that began in the late 1960s at the Penn Museum.
  • Singapore Heritage Society – SHS is an independent voice for heritage conservation in Singapore.
  • Southeast Asian Ceramic Society – Formed in 1969, the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society’s purpose is to widen appreciation and acquire knowledge of the ceramic art of China and countries adjacent to China, especially those of Southeast Asia. To pursue this aim, local members meet for periodic discussion, to hear talks by experts and to study and compare pots.
  • Wenner-Gren Foundation – The Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, Inc. is a private operating foundation dedicated to the advancement of anthropology throughout the world.
  • World Archaeological Congress – The World Archaeological Congress ogists, heritage managers, students and members of the public.
  • World Monuments Fund – runs a number of projects in Southeast Asia.

Links to other Sites and Media

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Here is where I keep the other useful and interesting sites that are related to the archaeology of Southeast Asia. Unless stated, I have no connection with the organisations or entities behind these links or control over their content. I strive to keep this list updated and relevant, so if you have a suggestion for a useful resource not listed here, please contact me or leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Facebook Groups

Facebook is so ubiquitous that it is hard to keep track of all the official pages and groups. I try to prioritise Facebook Pages and Groups that are active and do not have a standalone web presence, followd by the official pages of organisations.

Blogs

  • EFEO Jakarta blog (French/Bahasa Indonesia) – Blog run by the Jakarta branch of the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient
  • International Council of Monuments and Sites, Philippines – ICOMOS Philippines maintains a blog on the industrial heritage of the Philippines
  • It Surfaced Down Under! – A blog by Damien Huffer discussing the looted antiquities trade in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • KhmerImagery – Page by Dr Vittorio Roveda on the Archaeology of Imagery from the Khmer Empire
  • Paths Unwritten – Website documenting ancient sites in Asia and the peoples who built them, and then adapting them into practical archaeological travel
  • Reminiscing Old Java – Blog dedicated to sharing information about old Javanese civilization, including heritage, history, and culture. Last updated 2016
  • Siam Rat Blog – A blog about the history and culture of thailand and Laos
  • Tea Circle – Forum for new and emerging perspectives on Burma/Myanmar during its current period of political and economic transition.

Podcasts

  • The Arch and Anth Podcast – Hosted by Dr. Michael B. C. Rivera in conversation with archaeologists and anthropologists from around the world about their work. There haven’t been any new episodes since 2020, but there is a large back catalogue of 150 episodes.
  • HERstory: Southeast Asia – The history of Southeast Asia, told from her perspective with informative takes on the (often lesser-known) female figures of Southeast Asia’s past.
  • History of Southeast Asia – Podcast with over a hundred episodes by Charles Kimball. The earlier episodes talk about the archaeology of Southeast Asia, but because it is a grand narrative, some of the details can be out of date. I would use it as an introductory-level resource.

YouTube Channels

  • World’s Forgotten Temples – A YouTube channel by Paulo Bonini featuring the many Khmer temples in Cambodia – not just the big popular ones, but also the smaller obscure ones.

Personal Pages

  • Alison in Cambodia – Dr Alison Carter of the University of Oregon works in Cambodia. The website is less updated nowadays, but still some good content on it. More active on Facebook.
  • Michael Vickery memorial page – Devoted to the late Prof. Michael Vickery, contains a list of his publications.
  • Pinisi – Site by Horst Liebner about the Sulawesi boatbuilding tradition.
  • Rasmi Shoocongdej – Personal website of Dr Rasmi Shoocongdej of Silpakorn University, Thailand.
  • Sarah Klassen – Personal website of Dr Sarah Klassen, director of the Koh Ker Archaeological Project and co-director of the Cambodian Archaeological Lidar Initiative.
  • Stephen B. Acabado – Personal website of Dr Stephen Acabado of University of California at Los Angeles.

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