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สวัสดีครับ! After six decades spent in the cool, carefully curated halls of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, four ancient bronze sculptures from Thailand’s Prakhon Chai Hoard are finally on their way home. Their recent history begins with their discovery in the early 1960s in Buriram’s Prakhon Chai district. The hoard — comprising hundreds of pieces blending Dvaravati and Khmer styles — was quickly plundered. By 1964, many had vanished into the murky waters of the international art market. Among those accused of spiriting them away was infamous dealer Douglas Latchford. Many longtime readers would be familiar with this name as he appears in news stories frequently. He was later indicted for trafficking looted Southeast Asian artifacts, and although he died in 2020, his legacy continues to haunt museums worldwide as provenance records are scrutinized and restitution efforts accelerate.

This week's milestone marks the culmination of Thailand’s decade-long push for repatriation, led by the Committee for the Retrieval of Overseas Antiquities and coordinated with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. After months of deliberation and public consultation, the Asian Art Museum formally de-accessioned the four bronzes — three Bodhisattva figures and one Buddha image — clearing the path for their return. These sculptures, estimated to be 1,300 years old, were part of a request for 32 artifacts lodged in 2019.

As Thailand celebrates this homecoming, the story reflects broader shifts in the world of museums and the repatriation of cultural heritage. Once shielded by museum prestige and complex ownership claims, artifacts like the Prakhon Chai bronzes are finally returning to their source communities. This is not the first time that artefacts are being returned to their home country from overseas, and it will not be the last!

And now, on to the news:

Contents

1. Highlights of the Week

2. Announcements

3. Upcoming Events

4. Southeast Asia

5. Cambodia

6. Indonesia

7. Myanmar

8. Philippines

9. Thailand

10. Vietnam

11. Peripheral Southeast Asia

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Highlights of the Week

[Back to Contents]

In no particular order, here are five of the most popular stories from this week:

• Prakhon Chai Artifacts Set for Repatriation to Thailand
  via Bangkok Post and various sources: 01 May 2025: The United States is preparing to return four ancient bronze sculptures to Thailand, believed to have been looted from Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II in Buriram province in 1964. These artifacts, comprising three Bodhisattva figures and one Buddha image, are part of the Prakhon Chai hoard and are estimated to be around 1,300 years old. The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has removed these items from its inventory following a review of evidence provided by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Thailand's Fine Arts Department. The repatriation is part of Thailand's broader efforts to recover cultural heritage artifacts that were illicitly exported.
  See also: San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation, Khaosod

• Myanmar Restores Temples Damaged by Recent Earthquake
  via Global New Light of Myanmar, 30 April 2025: Myanmar’s Department of Archaeology and National Museums has begun phased restoration work on ancient buildings damaged by a recent earthquake affecting Mandalay and surrounding historic sites including Inwa, Amarapura, and Sagaing. Restoration efforts involve detailed documentation, emergency maintenance, and structural repairs, with special attention to preserving interior murals and fragile elements. Teams have been deployed regionally to assess and stabilize damaged heritage, with the work reflecting a more systematic and careful approach to safeguarding Myanmar's cultural landmarks from natural disasters.

• Thanh Den Excavation Reveals Ancient Vietnamese Settlement
  via Hai Duong News, 29 April 2025: A recent archaeological survey at Thanh Den in Ngoc Son commune (Hai Duong city) has revealed traces of Dong Son period residences and a later Eastern Han district-level administrative center. Conducted from March to April 2025, the excavation uncovered 2,670 artifacts — mainly architectural materials, ceramics, and bronze metallurgical remains — dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Notable finds include stamped roof tiles suggesting large-scale Han-era architecture. Experts regard Thanh Den as highly valuable for understanding the cultural transition from the Dong Son to Eastern Han period. Archaeologists recommend expanded excavations and preservation efforts to protect this important site.

• Royal bronzes from Angkor, an art of the divine: our photos of the exhibition at the Musée Guimet
  via Phnom Penh Post and other sources, 29 April 2025: The Musée Guimet in Paris has opened "Angkor Royal Bronzes: Art of the Divine," running from April 30 to September 8, 2025. Showcasing over 200 Khmer bronze artifacts — including 126 from Cambodia’s National Museum — the exhibition highlights the role of royal patronage in bronze artistry from the 9th century onward. A centrepiece is the recently restored reclining Vishnu from Western Mebon, displayed with its fragments for the first time. Supported by ALIPH and organised with multiple Cambodian and French heritage bodies, the exhibition deepens France–Cambodia cultural ties and offers visitors a rare look at Khmer metallurgical and spiritual traditions.
  See also: Le Monde, Khmer Times, Sortir Paris

• Historic Pagodas and Monasteries Lost in Myanmar Earthquake
  via AFP, 27 April 2025: Myanmar's cultural heartland suffered catastrophic losses following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March that killed over 3,700 people and destroyed thousands of historic structures. Key sites in Mandalay, Inwa, and Sagaing — including the revered Nagayon Pagoda, Me Nu Brick Monastery, and Lawka Tharaphu Pagoda — were left in ruins, while over 5,000 pagodas were damaged nationwide. Although immediate relief efforts focus on displaced survivors and humanitarian aid, local monks and residents lament that centuries-old heritage may be impossible to fully restore. Some icons, like an eight-metre marble Buddha, miraculously survived, offering a rare symbol of resilience amid widespread loss.

Announcements

[Back to Contents]
Contact me if you have a call for papers or job posting that you want to publicise.

• Call for Papers: IASSRT 2025 to Explore Textiles Beyond the Silk Road
  The 9th Symposium of the International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles (IASSRT) will take place at UC Berkeley from 9–12 October 2025, marking its first meeting in the U.S. Hosted by the Tang Center for Silk Road Studies, the conference invites papers addressing the theme Beyond the Silk Road, Across the Seas: Circulations of Textiles, Ideas, and Techniques before 1800. Scholars from diverse disciplines are encouraged to explore maritime routes and Pacific Rim exchanges, highlighting how migration, colonial power, and trade shaped textile history. Abstract submissions are now open.

• Call for Papers: Bengal Symposium 2025 on Heritage Beyond Colonial Borders
  The inaugural Bengal Symposium: Archaeology, History, and Heritage Beyond Colonial Divides will take place online on 14–15 November 2025, focusing on collaborative and critical engagement with Bengal’s complex past. Scholars from archaeology, history, heritage, and related fields are invited to reassess colonial historiography, highlight subaltern and indigenous perspectives, and explore cross-border cultural continuities. The symposium encourages contributions from all career stages, especially early-career researchers. Abstract submissions (150–250 words) are due by 31 August 2025, with acceptance notifications by 21 September. Selected abstracts will be published in an open-access Book of Abstracts.

Upcoming Events

[Back to Contents]
Contact me if you have an event, public lecture or job posting that you want to publicise.

• 19-20 May 2025: International Conference on Kedah Tua (Penang, Malaysia)

• 22-28 June 2025: World Archaeological Congress (WAC-10) (Darwin, Australia)

• 27-28 June 2025: Southeast Asia Library Group Annual Meeting (Passau, Germany)

• 17-19 July 2025: Decolonization of Southeast Asian Studies Workshop (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

• 8-13 September 2025: The Fourth Conference of European Association for Asian Art and Archaeology (Lisbon, Portugal)

• 27 October - 6 November 2025: Asian Prehistory Today (UISPP) (Salatiga, Sangiran, Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

• 2026: The Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Congress (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Southeast Asia

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of Southeast Asia]

• Call for Papers: IASSRT 2025 to Explore Textiles Beyond the Silk Road
  The 9th Symposium of the International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles (IASSRT) will take place at UC Berkeley from 9–12 October 2025, marking its first meeting in the U.S. Hosted by the Tang Center for Silk Road Studies, the conference invites papers addressing the theme Beyond the Silk Road, Across the Seas: Circulations of Textiles, Ideas, and Techniques before 1800. Scholars from diverse disciplines are encouraged to explore maritime routes and Pacific Rim exchanges, highlighting how migration, colonial power, and trade shaped textile history. Abstract submissions are now open.

Cambodia

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of Cambodia]

• Cambodia Starts Major Conservation at Koh Ker
  via Khmer Times, 02 May 2025: The National Authority for Preah Vihear has launched a three-year conservation project (2025–2028) to restore Prasat Krahom (Red Temple) at the Koh Ker World Heritage Site, funded by ALIPH. Restoration aims to stabilise the deteriorating brick temple, remove debris, and preserve original mortar and structure. Built by King Jayavarman IV (928–944), the temple features distinctive statuary, including a six-metre sandstone image of Preah Isora. Years of natural decay, looting, and war damage have left the structure fragile. Restoration, despite upcoming rainy season challenges, will be carried out by NAPV archaeologists and engineers to safeguard the monument’s integrity.

• Cambodia’s Angkor Park Sees Strong Growth in 2025
  via Khmer Times, 02 May 2025: Angkor Archaeological Park welcomed 474,810 foreign visitors in the first four months of 2025, marking a 12.68% increase from the previous year and generating $22.2 million in ticket revenue. April alone saw 76,279 tourists contributing $3.49 million. Government-private sector collaborations, improved air connectivity, and new ticketing systems have all boosted accessibility and convenience for visitors.

• Royal bronzes from Angkor, an art of the divine: our photos of the exhibition at the Musée Guimet
  via Phnom Penh Post and other sources, 29 April 2025: The Musée Guimet in Paris has opened "Angkor Royal Bronzes: Art of the Divine," running from April 30 to September 8, 2025. Showcasing over 200 Khmer bronze artifacts — including 126 from Cambodia’s National Museum — the exhibition highlights the role of royal patronage in bronze artistry from the 9th century onward. A centrepiece is the recently restored reclining Vishnu from Western Mebon, displayed with its fragments for the first time. Supported by ALIPH and organised with multiple Cambodian and French heritage bodies, the exhibition deepens France–Cambodia cultural ties and offers visitors a rare look at Khmer metallurgical and spiritual traditions.
  See also: Le Monde, Khmer Times, Sortir Paris

Indonesia

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of Indonesia]

• Indonesia Seeks Indian Help for Prambanan Restoration
  via VOI, 02 May 2025: During the WAVES 2025 summit in Mumbai, Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon met India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to express condolences over a recent terror attack and to propose deeper cultural collaboration. Besides reaffirming solidarity, Fadli promoted initiatives under the bilateral Cultural Exchange Program, including film and music partnerships. Notably, he invited India to assist in restoring Prambanan Temple, following a commitment made by PM Modi.

Myanmar

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of Myanmar]

• Myanmar Restores Temples Damaged by Recent Earthquake
  via Global New Light of Myanmar, 30 April 2025: Myanmar’s Department of Archaeology and National Museums has begun phased restoration work on ancient buildings damaged by a recent earthquake affecting Mandalay and surrounding historic sites including Inwa, Amarapura, and Sagaing. Restoration efforts involve detailed documentation, emergency maintenance, and structural repairs, with special attention to preserving interior murals and fragile elements. Teams have been deployed regionally to assess and stabilize damaged heritage, with the work reflecting a more systematic and careful approach to safeguarding Myanmar's cultural landmarks from natural disasters.

• [Video] Lost to History: Myanmar’s Heritage Falls Victim to Quake
  via The Irrawaddy, 28 April 2025:

• Historic Pagodas and Monasteries Lost in Myanmar Earthquake
  via AFP, 27 April 2025: Myanmar's cultural heartland suffered catastrophic losses following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March that killed over 3,700 people and destroyed thousands of historic structures. Key sites in Mandalay, Inwa, and Sagaing — including the revered Nagayon Pagoda, Me Nu Brick Monastery, and Lawka Tharaphu Pagoda — were left in ruins, while over 5,000 pagodas were damaged nationwide. Although immediate relief efforts focus on displaced survivors and humanitarian aid, local monks and residents lament that centuries-old heritage may be impossible to fully restore. Some icons, like an eight-metre marble Buddha, miraculously survived, offering a rare symbol of resilience amid widespread loss.

Philippines

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of the Philippines]

• National Museum Hosts Indigenous Script Workshop at Tabon
  via Palawan News, 28 April 2025: Visitors to the National Museum of the Philippines–Tabon Cave Complex recently participated in the "Surat it Tagbanua bau Pala’wan Writing Experience," which concluded on April 27. The activity introduced guests to the ancient Tagbanua and Pala’wan scripts, both UNESCO-listed as vital intangible heritage. Guided by museum staff trained in a prior workshop, participants practiced writing their names on bamboo, replicating traditional recording methods. Each took home an inscribed bamboo keepsake.

Thailand

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of Thailand]

• Prasat Ta Muen Thom Tensions Ease After Bilateral Talks
  via Bangkok Post, 03 May 2025: Thailand and Cambodia agreed to withdraw troops from Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin following bilateral talks to de-escalate tensions after a brief incident in February involving Cambodian nationals singing at the site. Defence ministers and military officials from both sides confirmed that forces will return to original positions within a pre-agreed buffer zone to prevent future clashes. While Thai authorities reaffirmed that the temple remains within Thai territory, critics and nationalist groups in Thailand raised concerns that the troop withdrawal could weaken Thailand's territorial claims. Further discussions are expected at future Joint Boundary Committee meetings.

• Prakhon Chai Artifacts Set for Repatriation to Thailand
  via Bangkok Post and various sources: 01 May 2025: The United States is preparing to return four ancient bronze sculptures to Thailand, believed to have been looted from Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II in Buriram province in 1964. These artifacts, comprising three Bodhisattva figures and one Buddha image, are part of the Prakhon Chai hoard and are estimated to be around 1,300 years old. The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has removed these items from its inventory following a review of evidence provided by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Thailand's Fine Arts Department. The repatriation is part of Thailand's broader efforts to recover cultural heritage artifacts that were illicitly exported.
  See also: San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation, Khaosod

• Sacred Nakhon Phanom Temple Moves Closer to World Heritage
  via Thaiger, 29 April 2025: Thailand is advancing its UNESCO World Heritage bid for Wat Phra That Phanom, a major Buddhist temple in Nakhon Phanom province believed to house a relic of the Buddha. On April 28, Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol visited the sacred site to oversee progress and partake in a traditional cloth-wrapping ritual at the iconic stupa. Added to Thailand’s Tentative List in 2017, the temple’s nomination is now progressing with plans for a comprehensive master plan to safeguard its main stupa and buffer zones. The move aims to ensure sustainable development while elevating the temple’s global recognition.
  See also: Pattaya Mail

• Chiang Mai’s Sacred Sites Under Repair After Earthquake
  via Thai PBS World, 22 April 2025: Following the March 28 earthquake centred in Myanmar, Chiang Mai’s historic temples — Wat Chedi Liam, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Umong — sustained notable damage, prompting swift restoration efforts. Cracks appeared in walls, chedis, and tunnels, with Wat Umong’s 700-year-old meditation tunnels identified as structurally vulnerable. Restoration plans include stabilising tunnels, reinforcing chedis, reapplying stucco using traditional methods, and safeguarding murals. Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol has prioritised urgent repairs, stressing these temples' cultural and spiritual importance. Despite ongoing works, most sites remain open to visitors, preserving Chiang Mai’s vital link to its Lanna heritage.

Vietnam

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of Vietnam]

• Bac Lieu to Boost Tourism at Vinh Hung Archaeological Site
  via Vietnam.VN, 02 May 2025: Bac Lieu province is aiming to transform its two Special National Monuments — Cai Chanh Base and Vinh Hung Archaeological Site — into distinctive tourism destinations. While Cai Chanh preserves revolutionary history, Vinh Hung, linked to the ancient Oc Eo culture, holds exceptional archaeological value with five national treasures discovered on-site. Authorities plan to enhance tourism by introducing complementary experiences such as homestays, rural activities, and local cuisine to attract more visitors. Improved infrastructure and integration into broader tour networks are also part of Bac Lieu’s strategy to promote these monuments and diversify its tourism offerings.
  See also: Bac Lieu Online

• Thanh Den Excavation Reveals Ancient Vietnamese Settlement
  via Hai Duong News, 29 April 2025: A recent archaeological survey at Thanh Den in Ngoc Son commune (Hai Duong city) has revealed traces of Dong Son period residences and a later Eastern Han district-level administrative center. Conducted from March to April 2025, the excavation uncovered 2,670 artifacts — mainly architectural materials, ceramics, and bronze metallurgical remains — dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Notable finds include stamped roof tiles suggesting large-scale Han-era architecture. Experts regard Thanh Den as highly valuable for understanding the cultural transition from the Dong Son to Eastern Han period. Archaeologists recommend expanded excavations and preservation efforts to protect this important site.

• Huế Imperial City Offers Free Night Tours for Holidaymakers
  via Viet Nam News, 28 April 2025: To celebrate Vietnam’s reunification and Labour Day holidays, Huế Imperial City is offering free night-time access from 6pm to 9:30pm through Hiển Nhơn gate. Visitors can enjoy historic sites like Thiệu Phương garden, watch craft demonstrations, and view traditional fireworks at Kỳ Đài every Saturday. A highlight is the "Journey of Vietnamese Ceramics" exhibition at Kiến Trung Palace, featuring nearly 200 ancient pottery pieces as part of Huế Festival 2025.

Peripheral Southeast Asia

[Back to Contents] [Archaeology of ‘Peripheral’ Southeast Asia]

• Call for Papers: IASSRT 2025 to Explore Textiles Beyond the Silk Road
  The 9th Symposium of the International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles (IASSRT) will take place at UC Berkeley from 9–12 October 2025, marking its first meeting in the U.S. Hosted by the Tang Center for Silk Road Studies, the conference invites papers addressing the theme Beyond the Silk Road, Across the Seas: Circulations of Textiles, Ideas, and Techniques before 1800. Scholars from diverse disciplines are encouraged to explore maritime routes and Pacific Rim exchanges, highlighting how migration, colonial power, and trade shaped textile history. Abstract submissions are now open.

• Call for Papers: Bengal Symposium 2025 on Heritage Beyond Colonial Borders
  The inaugural Bengal Symposium: Archaeology, History, and Heritage Beyond Colonial Divides will take place online on 14–15 November 2025, focusing on collaborative and critical engagement with Bengal’s complex past. Scholars from archaeology, history, heritage, and related fields are invited to reassess colonial historiography, highlight subaltern and indigenous perspectives, and explore cross-border cultural continuities. The symposium encourages contributions from all career stages, especially early-career researchers. Abstract submissions (150–250 words) are due by 31 August 2025, with acceptance notifications by 21 September. Selected abstracts will be published in an open-access Book of Abstracts.