Ancient gold historyAnna Bennett’s fascination with the foundations of civilisation in what became Thailand has carried her from bachelor's degree to doctorate and, now, authorship of a book. The final incentive for the book came from the government-backed agency DASTA - the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration - which is promoting U Thong as a travel destination, in part because of its gilded history. "The book demonstrates how important U Thong is as an archaeology site and it will reach a wider audience," she says. U Thong was linked to the wider world through a very elaborate system of trade via rivers and canals. "A consultant in high demand in the fields of archaeological science and conservation, Bennett has worked for the Getty Museum, English Heritage, the Los Angeles County Museum and others.

Source: The Nation Bangkok September 11, 2016 17:03 UTC