[Little Pig]

The pre-polynesian influence in this one is apparent, though it retains some continental asian too. Since the polynesians are (AFAIK) generally thought to be migrants from south Asia. The time frame would be about right, too, since most put the polynesian migration several thousand years BC. This might be something those who stayed behind made.


Alternative theory: There was a diaspora from coastal southeast asia by a proto-culture (who knows why). Some went out to sea, others went north. The seafarers, not encountering any rival cultures, managed to survive long enough to establish. Those who went north ran into what would eventually be the Chinese, and were absorbed or foundered.


JMHO, YMMV

[blam]

I agree with both your ideas...and, it probably happened around 6,000-8,000BC when Sundaland completely went underwater. Some even believe the Sumerians were refugees from Sundaland.

Dr Robert Schoch (Geologist/Geophysist) has a book titled Voyages Of The Pyramid Builders and in it he proposes that the refugees from Sundaland 'scattered' all around the world taking their pyramid building culture with them.

Also, Stephen Oppenheimer, in his book, Eden In The East, essentially comes to the same conclusion about the dispersal.

[JimSEA]

Alternative theory: There was a diaspora from coastal southeast asia by a proto-culture (who knows why). Some went out to sea, others went north. The seafarers, not encountering any rival cultures, managed to survive long enough to establish. Those who went north ran into what would eventually be the Chinese, and were absorbed or foundered.

I think you are dead on. The books listed by Blam below are fairly convincing. "Eden in the East" also talks about genetic links between Southeast Asia, polynesia, Bornio and other areas (Middle east, Korea). The dispersal of people from the now submerged coastal Southeast Asia may also account for the highly developed Ban Chiang culture and metallurgy on the Korat Plateau. The Thai Yai will tell you they come from Sichuan. The Thai language group is spread throughout Thailand, South China, Northern Burma, Northeast India, Laos, Northwest Vietnam and Taiwan.