A breakthrough study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science has identified a previously unknown maritime trade route linking the Malay Peninsula to the eastern coast of India during the Bronze Age. By analyzing the chemical signatures of aromatic resins found in Odisha and tin ingots discovered in underwater sites off the coast of Thailand, researchers have mapped the 'Resin and Tin' Seaway, which predates the formal Silk Road by over a millennium.
The discovery suggests that ancient seafaring technology in the Bay of Bengal was far more advanced than previously thought. The trade network facilitated the exchange of high-status luxury goods used in religious ceremonies and early metallurgy. This new data challenges the traditional Eurocentric view of maritime trade, placing Southeast Asia as a central hub in the early global economy.