During the last Ice Age, south-east Asia was a larger single geographical area than today, with many of the islands linked by land. As the ice melted 10,000 years ago, the sea-level rose and the landmass became fragmented into the thousands of islands that form Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines today.

These islands were populated by sea-faring peoples, who used the rich marine resources. Many of the sites around the coastlines are shell middens that have preserved their food refuse as well as their stone tools used for grinding, scraping and cutting, together with bone points and fish hooks made of shell.

Further north in the limestone areas that stretch from Burma to Vietnam, caves were frequently inhabited. Spirit Cave in Thailand was occupied between 11,000 and 8000 years ago and preserved many plant remains including beans and peas. It is not known whether these were cultivated or picked in the wild. However, by 6000 years ago agriculture was certainly widespread through most of mainland south-east Asia.