Ban Chiang, located in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, is one of the world’s earliest prehistoric sites. Here, more than 3,000 years before Christ, a mysterious culture rose, flourished, and vanished; excavations by the Fine Arts Department have found evidence of agriculture going back to 400 B.C., as well as magnificent painted pottery. These excavations have been left open for visitors, showing the levels at which the various objects were found.