Abstract
This report is a record of the archaeological sites and artifacts discovered during my trip from Phnompenh, the capital of Cambodia, to Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang of Laos along the Mekong River, as a member of the Consolidated Southeast Asia Rice Culture and Ethnological Survey Group (Tonan Ajia Inasaku Minzoku Bunka Sogo Chosa-dan). 1. On the outskirts of Pakse in southern Laos near the foot of Mount Kao in Bassac (on the right bank of the Mekong River), two sites were discovered. Green-glazed pottery as well as celadon and white porcelain fragments of Chinese Tang and Sung Dynasties were found out from these sites. It is surmised that these were the sites of the ancient Tchen-La Period settlements. 2. In the vicinity of Luang Prabang, I traveled twenty-six kilometers up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to a point called Pak Hou. Here I crossed the river to the other side to conducted an investigation of an old cave-temple there. On the southern slope near the entrance to the cave-temple, I discovered some late Neolithic and early iron age earthenware artifacts. In a marsh near a village west of Ban Pha Nom (located in a northeasterly direction from Luang Prabang), I discovered a stone age site. Figure 3 shows the Neolithic are uncovered at this site. 3. In the highlands of Xieng Khouang, I investigated the megalithic site of Ban Ang and also an early iron age crematory site in a cave. Also in Xieng Khouang at a place near the provincial governor's estate. Figure 4 I discovered an earthenware handle in a form quite reminiscent of a water buffalo.
