Examining trade routes through the Thai–Malay Peninsula: A simulation analysis

Abstract

An important area for understanding human movement and trade routes during the Early Historic Period in Southeast Asia is the Thai–Malay Peninsula where external records date back 2300 years. Early east–west trade could be routed around the peninsula or sailing time could be reduced by taking terrestrial shortcuts across the peninsula. However, spatial research, particularly on transpeninsula routes, is insufficient to supplement the gaps between written historical records and excavated archaeological sites. This study aimed to simulate transpeninsula routes across the entire Thai–Malay Peninsula using a digital elevation model (DEM) to eliminate human biases when exploring the actual terrain. The simulation results reveal some intriguing characteristics of potential routes that can be used to divide the Thai–Malay Peninsula into five zones. This zonation is associated with external historical records and archaeological evidence before the twelfth century AD to assess the efficacy of different transpeninsula routes. These data are also utilized to propose potential areas of undiscovered archaeological sites within the Thai–Malay Peninsula.

Keywords:

• Southeast Asia
• Early Historic Period
• maritime trade
• pathfinding

Supplemental files

S1. Elevation profiles of route 01W-01E and 02W-02E.

S2. Elevation profiles of route 06W-06E and 09W-09E.

S3. Elevation profiles of route 10W-10E, 11W-11E, and 12W-12E.

S4. Elevation profiles of route 14W-14E and 15W-15E.

S5. Elevation profiles of route 22W-22E.

Acknowledgements

This study was done with valuable resources, comments, suggestions, and interpretations from Srisak Vallibhodom from the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Center (Public Organization), Dr Bunchar Pongpanich from the Suvarnabhumi Studies Center, TASSHA, Dr Chedha Tingsanchali from the Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, Dr Krislert Samphantharak from the School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego, Dr Pipad Krajaejun from the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, and anonymous reviewers who provided comments that helped to improve the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Thailand Academy of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (TASSHA) research fund on Suvarnabhumi Studies [grant no. 004/64].