Prehistory The earliest settlers in this region were hunter-gatherers. The Neolithic, with the introduction of agriculture, dates from 2,500 to 1,500 years BCE. The
Bronze Age dates from 1,500–500 BCE and the
Iron Age from 500 BCE to 500 CE. It is in the Iron Age that the first evidence of human settlement emerges in the province, with approximately sixty known Iron Age sites.
Historical period Shrine The earliest known historical period is the
Dvaravati. This was an Indian-based culture that diffused through the north-east region of what is now
Thailand. Evidence of this culture is found in the Surin region, dating from the 7th to the 11th centuries CE. It was in this period that Buddhism became the dominant religion of the region. Following the Dvaravati period, the powerful
Khmer Empire expanded its influence throughout what is now the southern Isan region of Thailand. This period covers the 7th to 13th centuries CE. Surin was an important part of the ancient Khmer empire. Temple ruins and a substantial ethnic
Khmer minority remain part of Surin. Khmer stone inscriptions date from c. 600 CE. Over the next several centuries, a growing number of Khmer sites were constructed in the province, most notably
Prasat Sikhoraphum. These sites would have formed part of the network of Khmer infrastructure centred on Prasat Phanom Rung. With the collapse of the
Khmer Empire in the 13th century, Surin province faded from history. It was in the 18th century that it re-emerges. At this time, a Kuay local leader named Chiangpum became the royally appointed ruler of the region. According to legend, he presented a rare
white elephant to
Chao Phaya Chakri, future King
Rama I. In gratitude, Chiangpum was awarded the royal title
Luang Surin Phakdi and appointed the village headman. When Rama I became the Thai monarch, he appointed Luang Surin Phakdi as the province's governor. In 1763, the village was moved to the location of the modern city of Surin, and was upgraded to a city with the name
Muang Prathai Saman. There is a local legend that this move was due to better water supplies at the new site. The original location of the town was at Muang Thi, approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the east of the modern city. In 1786, the city's name was changed to Surin in honor of its governor. The province slowly grew in population; there was a continual influx of people from surrounding areas, principally Cambodia (part of what is now western Cambodia was ruled by Bangkok at this time). Surin was largely self-sufficient, and somewhat isolated. This changed with the advent of the railroad in 1922. Chinese and Indian merchants settled, and its manufacturing increased. ==Transportation==