Museum Treasures of Southeast Asia tells the story of the material cultures of this region through historical artifacts from the collections of the national museums of ten countries which make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Through historical objects created in STONE, METAL, CLAY, and FIBER, this book traces the history of Southeast Asia back to the origins of man in the region, through the area's stone and metal ages, through the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms and dynasties, to the evolution and birth of independent nation states, and the eventual formation of ASEAN.

Museum artifacts are from the collections of the national museums of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.” Should be: “Museum artifacts are from the collections of the national museums of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.