The Ban Chiang Archeological Site has become an important source in the study of human civiisations. As a result of accidental but fortuitous finds in the area it became protected under the Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums Act of 1961 and subsequent Acts. This has allowed extensive excavations to be carried out with some amazing discoveries. Most significant is the huge haul of pottery which by their design and production techniques and from carbon dating has allowed accurate dating of the site. This reveals that the area was occupied for a very long time during a period when the landscape was very different from the dry arid plateau it is today. However what completely baffled the establishment was the dating of finds from around 3600BC. The size of the settlement at Ban Chiang and at various other locations on the Khorat Plateau made it the earliest of its kind and dismissed previous thinking that the area had become settled from other civilisations e.g. in India or China. Such was the scale and importance of this discovery that it swiftly became adopted as a UNESCO site of special historical significance. Today the site is reinforced by the construction of a visitor centre and museum. A visit to the centre is thoroughly worthwhile if you are in the area. It will take a good part of the day to really take in what the exhibits represent and to appreciate the various stages of occupation at Ban Chiang. The museum itself is beautifully laid out easing the visitor through time and space. It shows graphically what the landscape was like in those early days and by comparison with today explains why the civilisation died out.