How many Dvaravati kingdoms? Locational analysis of first millennium AD moated settlements in central Thailand

Locational information about moated settlements derived from examination of aerial photographs of central Thailand is used to assess the degree of reg ional integration and political centralization during the sixth to ninth ce nturies A.D. around the Bay of Bangkok A consideration of settlement size h ierarchy, rank-size distribution, and geographical location suggests that t he moated settlements were integrated into a single regional economic syste m by the end of the time under consideration. While it is argued that the m oated settlements represent remnants of administrative hierarchy, it is unc lear from the current data whether a single state-level polity or a series of smaller competing polities were present. Further investigation is needed to comprehend how the inhabitants of this region, who shared a common mate rial culture and symbolic system, conceptualized their political relationsh ips. (C) 1999 Academic Press.