The main aim of this paper was to synthesize current discovery and propose a concept of cultural transformation and innovation of people in Thailand as a result of the trans-oceanic contacts since the beginning of the maritime silk road. Three main items of discussion: elephants and tusks, ceramics and bronze objects are representatives of the archaeological findings and historical evidence of the explanation of the concept. The Following were among the findings of this study: (1) Elephant has played a pivotal role in the livelihood and customs of Thai people from the remote past until the present. Its higher status, particularly a royal elephant and a symbol of king’s prestige, reflects an adoption of Hindu and Buddhist influences. Thai scholars invented the concept of royal white elephant clans and technical manual for catching wild elephant and tame it for serving man’s activities. The elephant’s roles had been changed when a diplomatic trade established and tamed elephant was a tribute and a white elephant, a precious gift, presented to a Chinese emperor by a Thai’s king. A live elephant and elephant tusk (ivory) trade that had been continuously increased when overseas commerce with India, Japan, and the European countries actively took place since the early 17^th century. The Thai absolute monarchy had a monopoly on elephant and tusks trade. For two centuries of elephant and tusks trade, a population of elephant had decreased markedly. (2) Ceramics have been either imported or exported items. The discovery of earthenware potsherds of ‘Indo-Roman roulettes ware’ in Southeast Asian sites including Thailand indicates that the first to second- century Roman-Indian trade network distributed throughout the region before the advent of Hinduism and Buddhism. Evidence of the eighth-century torpedo stoneware jars bearing the Pahlavi inscription of the Persian Gulf as well as some Chinese glazed stoneware bearing the Arab inscription found at a shipwreck and port sites in Thailand suggests that the local emporium and middlemen trading with Chinese, Indian, Arab and Persian were established. Local craftsmen that were already skilled at pyro-technology were easily to acquire Chinese glazed stoneware technique to produce the first glazed ‘Buriram ceramic’, popularly known as ‘Khmer ceramic’ and it was only exported in the mainland Southeast Asia, whereas a fine grain ‘Pa-O’ earthenware from southern Thailand was overseas exported. By tracing Thai glazed stoneware ‘Sangkhalok’ exported to Ryukyu island and Japan, there appears a glimpse of trade interaction with Korea. Between 14^th and 17^th century the Thai ceramic as a commodity itself or a container for local product had been exported to the world market as well as the Chinese and Japanese ceramics were imported to the country. A reciprocal imitation of ceramic styles and designs for trade occurred between 17^th and 18^th century in the time of the first Thai polychrome enameling porcelain occurred. (3) Bronze objects, especially high-tin bronze weapon, vessel and ornament had been developed since 2000 BCE, but the discovery of the Chinese bronze kettle drum of the 5^th to 1^st century BCE points towards the theory that the maritime contact with the Far East (China) was established and its spiritual tradition was absorbed prior to that with India. The metallurgical knowledge handed down to religious artisans, sculptors of the historical states in which bronze images of Buddha and other Buddhist icons and objects were sophistically developed. It is hypothesized that an image of Buddha in particular posture/gesture had been created on the basis of identification of Buddha’s teachings (philosophy) related to the significant episodes of the Buddha’s life to be ideally suited to the indigenous people’s life style and other factors of their community of the time rather than direct imitation of art styles imported from India or Sri Lanka.

A Reflection of Trans-oceanic Contacts on Innovations of Buddhist Art and Commodities in Thailand’s Past