Today, at the former United States Consulate General in Chiang Mai, Kealia Cummins, Consul General of the United States, presided over a ceremony to officially hand over archaeological artefacts to the Chiang Mai National Museum.
These artefacts were discovered in 2002 during excavation work to install a drainage system at the former U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai. They include pottery shards, metal objects, and animal bones dating back to the 20th–22nd Buddhist centuries. The Fine Arts Office 7 in Chiang Mai identified them as significant archaeological artefacts and recommended that the Consulate General preserve them in a secure location.
In July 2025, the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai invited experts from relevant agencies to assess the artefacts. Following the examination, in September 2025, specialists from the Chiang Mai National Museum took custody of the items to document and register them. In total, the collection comprises 171 registered entries and 399 individual pieces. Key categories include pottery fragments believed to have been produced at Lanna kiln sites such as Wiang Kalong, San Kamphaeng, and Lampang kilns, dating to the 20th–22nd Buddhist centuries; Chinese Ming Dynasty pottery fragments from the same period; and Chinese Qing Dynasty pottery fragments dating from the mid-24th to mid-25th Buddhist centuries.
On this occasion, the U.S. Consul General in Chiang Mai stated that the handover underscores the relationship between the United States and Thailand, as well as the United States’ respect for Thailand’s history and cultural heritage. She added that the United States remains committed to strengthening cooperation with local institutions and further deepening the longstanding ties between the two countries.
