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Prehistoric Discoveries in Siam, 1943–44

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2014

H. R. van Heekeren
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Extract

It is probably well known that the Japanese compelled Allied prisoners of war to work on the Bangkok-Moulmein railway, which was constructed during the war through the jungles of Siam and Burma. The author, who was captured in Java, arrived at the base camp of Nom-Pladuk on the 9th of February, 1943, and was sent at once to Taroewa, a village situated some 8 miles up-country. Being a member of the so-called ‘nail-shift,’ I started from this camp whenever opportunities presented themselves to study the entire region of the railway and the immediate surroundings as far north as the ‘Three Pagodas Pass’ on the Siam-Burma frontier, where the connection with the Burma section of the railway was accomplished. The total distance involved is somewhat over 140 miles, and the course of the river, the Mei Fingnoi, or Meklong, was always followed. Since all my discoveries were made along the first 75 miles of the railway, the remaining part need hardly be mentioned.

From the outset, I was constantly on the alert for prehistoric remains, this being possible since much ground was removed during the construction of the railway, but methodical investigations were naturally out of the question, while much of the material collected was subsequently lost again. All my scientific notes were taken from me by the Japanese.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 14 , 1948 , pp. 24 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1948

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