Thai treasures come home
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The Foreign Ministry yesterday handed over 76 artefacts from the Ban Chiang archaeological site to the Fine Arts Department, after five American donors gave the treasures to the Thai consul-general in Los Angeles.
Department of Information chief Manasvi Srisodapol said the five US citizens told the ministry in 2011 they wanted to return the artefacts, which are more than 1,000 years old. The donors were: Benjamin R Snidecor, a former US State Department official once based in Thailand who possessed 23 pieces; Robert Rochien, who inherited three items from his father; Anitra Bascon Wirtz, who inherited 29 artefacts from her father; Gary Buck, who inherited one piece from his father; and Richard Douglas, who inherited 20 pieces from his mother.
Manasvi said Thailand has received historical items since 2002. Yesterday’s handover bought the total number of returned artefacts to 263 pieces.
Fine Arts Department chief Anek Sihamat said the department would study and register the returned artefacts and display them at the National Museum. They come from the prehistoric Ban Chiang, an archaeological site in Udon Thani’s Nong Han district, which is divided into three periods: 5,000-3,000 years old, 3,000-2,000 years old; and 2,300-1,500 years old.
