Cultural Development of Lan Xang Communities in the Area between Loei and Nam Mong River Valleys, during A.D.1353-1559.

Abstract

This paper mainly focuses on cultural development of an ancient commuities during Lan Xang period (1353-1559 AD) which located between Loei and Nam Mong river valleys, by using historical methodology together with archaeological evidence and GIS technique. The geography of studied area has Pupan mountain range in the centre and the whole area have found a number of prehistorical settlement, however, the Lan Xang commuities mostly located on the east part of studied area. According to the study, there are 3 groups of settlement; continuously evidence of several period of settlement, discontinuously period of settlement and Lan Xang period. The inhabitation during 1353-1559 AD. Lan Xang has 2 phases of occupation. The early phase is during 1353-1520 which mostly discovered only in the western part, for example, Muang Sai Khao (Loei river valley) and Muang Nong Bua (Mong river valley). The later phase is during 1520-1559 AD., which the settlement dispersed all over studied area. The major spots of the later phase are Wat Huay Hao as the center of the west part and Wat Pra That Bang Puan as the center of the east part. Those communities were representative as socialization, Buddhist community and various livelihood. Moreover, the factors that effects the inhabitation during Lan Xang period in this area possibly originate from internal limitations of Luang Prabang, the plentiful of natural resource, appropriate location to connect with another community and also continuously develope from prehistoric society.