New Books in Ancient History Charles Higham, "Early Southeast Asia: From First Humans to First Civilizations" (NUS Press, 2024)
Dec 1, 2025
Charles Higham, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, shares groundbreaking insights from his book on Southeast Asia's history. He discusses the region's pivotal role in human evolution, from Homo erectus to modern humans. Higham illuminates recent discoveries, including the significance of the Denisovans and the impact of climate change on ancient settlements. He also highlights Angkor's advanced urban landscape revealed through LiDAR technology, connecting ancient practices to modern populations. An enthralling dive into nearly two million years of Southeast Asian history!
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Career Redirected By A Failed Interview
- Charles Higham described failing a job interview at Birmingham and moving to New Zealand, which redirected his career into Southeast Asian archaeology.
- That chance assignment to identify animal bones led to fieldwork in Thailand and a lifelong research focus.
Rapid Change Requires Frequent Revisions
- Southeast Asian prehistory has advanced rapidly with new excavations and technologies, making 10 years a long time for revisions.
- Higham updated his book because accumulated discoveries (like LiDAR results) changed major interpretations.
Early Diaspora Reached Southeast Asia Quickly
- Early humans expanded out of Africa around 2.1–1.9 million years ago and reached East and Southeast Asia very early.
- This diaspora followed warm corridors and may predate previously known expansions, complicating the human-origin story.