TRAVELTITBITS

New archaeological centre in Udon Thani The Fine Arts Department (FAD) will openBan Chiang Archaeological Research Centre in Udon Thani.

Located in Nong Handistrict, Ban Chiang is a popular archaeological site in the Northeast where an ancient community dating back to the Bronze Age lived. During its first discovery in 1966, an archaeological team from FADfound ancient cemeteries andartefacts, including human skeletons andpottery with motifs unique to Ban Chiang, indicatingthe presence of civilisation 5,000 years ago. Also found in the excavation sites were farm and hunting tools and utensils.

FAD is displaying anumber of artefacts at the Ban Chiang national museum and has also opened one of the excavated sites as a learning centre. In 1992, Ban Chiang archaeological site was listed as a World Heritage Site.

Located in the samecompound as the museum, the new BanChiang Archaeological Research Centre will operate asa warehousefor collecting artefacts found in the BanChiang community and other itemsasold but found in the upper parts of the Northeast.

FAD expects the centreto become a new attraction especially for thoseinterested in earthenware from prehistoric cultures.

The Ban Chiang Archaeological Research Centre will be completed in the next twoyears.

New luxury Bangkok-Buri Ram bus service Nakhonchai Air interprovincial busoperatorhas launched new first-class coaches offering social distancing for passengers.

The new buses feature 23 seats instead of 30 seats. Each seat is not connected but arranged in three rows with walkways on both sides of the middle column. Each seat is also equipped with a massage function, a personal15-inch TV monitor, tray table and readinglights as well as a seat belt.

NCA introduced the new first-class bus for the Bangkok-Buri Ram route. A one-wayticket is 488 baht.

Visit nakhonchaiair.com or call its callcentre at 1624.