PHILADELPHIA--A University of Pennsylvania professor said he has discovered evidence that human civilization began in Southeast Asia 600 years before the previously established dates for the beginning of civilization and of the Bronze Age.

Conventional history teaches that the cradle of civilization was in the Near East, in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley, about 3000 B.C.

Chester Gorman, assistant professor of Oriental studies, said excavations in Thailand by the UPenn university museum show that humans used metal alloys about 3600 B.C. and that civilization spread from Southeast Asia.

The excavations uncovered "layer upon layer of stratified human burials, decorated pottery, weapons, ornaments and a plethora of metal tools," Gorman said. A total of 18 tons of pottery, stone and metal objects were collected and transported to the UPenn museum, he added.

The artifacts are evidence that smelting and a highly developed metallurgy existed earlier than scientists had previously thought, Gorman said.

By examining the artifacts and 126 complete skeletons, Gorman said he has determined that the people of the first human civilization were skilled hunters, craftsmen and rice farmers.

Gorman, who has worked on the project since 1974, is writing a book about his findings that is scheduled for release early next year.