Forging the Past: Decoding Ancient Southeast Asian Shipwright Tools through Shipwrecks in Southern Thailand

Sira Ploymukda

This research investigates the evolution and impact of shipwright tools on mainland Southeast Asian shipbuilding from the 3rd century BCE to the 10th century CE. While previous maritime archaeology has focused on vessel structures and trade routes, this study addresses a critical gap by analysing the physical traces left by early boatbuilders to identify ancient toolkits and reconstruct their mechanical functions. Employing a multidisciplinary methodology based on the technological approach, the core data derives from traceology, the analysis of preserved tool marks, on three Thai shipwrecks: Pak Khlong Khluay (PKK), Khlong Thom (KT), and Ban Khlong Yuan (BKY). By utilising 3D modelling, historical archives, ethnographic studies, and experimental archaeology, the research successfully reconstructs ancient tool mechanics, handling postures, and cognitive decision-making processes. Findings reveal a clear technological progression tied to structural design. The earliest PKK ship (2nd century BCE) exhibits marks tailored for pegged mortise-and-tenon joinery. The KT boat (1st century CE) features heavy carving for early lashed-lug construction. Conversely, the mature lashed-lug BKY boat (10th century CE) displays flawlessly smooth edges, suggesting a shift toward advanced finishing tools like planers or saws. Experimental replication also recovered "intangible knowledge," identifying a consistent "unidirectional" cut technique. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that ancient Southeast Asian shipwrights achieved sophisticated engineering using a limited toolkit of axes, adzes, and chisels. Through extreme dexterity and "technological fusion", adapting foreign concepts to local materials, these craftsmen drove an incremental evolution in vessel construction to meet the demands of growing global maritime trade networks.