This book addresses the controversy over the origins of the Bronze Age
of Southeast Asia. Charles Higham provides a systematic and regional
presentation of the current evidence. He suggests that the adoption of
metallurgy in the region followed a period of growing exchange with
China. Higham then traces the development of Bronze Age cultures,
identifying regionality and innovation, and suggesting how and why
distinct cultures developed. This book is the first comprehensive study
of the period, placed within a broader comparative framework.