History on the River Kwai reaches back far further than the Second World War. At Ban Kao, a small museum beside a prehistoric burial ground tells of people who lived along the river thousands of years ago – and of the prisoner of war who discovered them.
History
While working as a prisoner of war on the Death Railway, the Dutch amateur archaeologist H. R. van Heekeren found stone tools near the camp at Ban Kao. He hid them until the end of the war and later returned to Thailand. Between 1960 and 1962, a Thai-Danish prehistoric expedition excavated the site and uncovered burials, pottery, stone and later iron tools, and ornaments. The finds date from roughly 1300 to 200 BC and span the Neolithic period into the Iron Age.
What you will experience
The Ban Kao National Museum presents a selection of the finds right next to the excavation site and gives a vivid picture of early life in the river valley – a fascinating contrast to the wartime history of the region.
Good to know
- The museum is small; the visit is relaxed and takes place in the morning before you rejoin the ship.
On these cruises
You visit the Ban Kao National Museum on the following RV River Kwai cruises:
- 7D/6N River Kwai Heritage Cruise – Day 6 (Saturday)
Compare all River Kwai cruises
Also along the way
Prasat Muang Sing · Death Railway train ride & Wang Pho Viaduct · Bridge over the River Kwai
