FOLKTALES RELATED TO DIMENSIONS OF INTERPRETATION OF CULTURE, CULTURAL ECOLOGY, AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were to study folktales related to dimensions of interpretation of culture, cultural ecology, and archaeological sites. The method of study is a mixed method. For qualitative research, the researcher is a tool who collected data through in-depth interviews and participant observations. There were 50 key informants. Researcher collected information in communities around the archaeological sites between January 2018 - February 2019. Qualitative Data Analysis involved a Triangular Content Analysis Table to review and synthesize 50 interviews with connotation of values ​​and traditions, written with the Thick Description technique. There were 15 folktales found after the process. The researcher used the interview text to create a 50-item questionnaire and then conducted a survey of 500 Thai people. For quantitative data analysis, Factor Analysis technique was used to extract variables and then determined the Eigen value by rotating the axis with Orthogonal Rotation (Varimax). Then, each factor was given name to. There are 4 factors that had Eigen Value greater than 1: 1) 15 Folktales related to Buddhist archaeological sites 2) Folktale language is the key to propagating Buddhism and forming good Buddhists 3) Folktales are related to cultural ecology 4) Folktales and folklore are related to cultural interpretations. The result showed that all 15 folktales are contemporary tales which share the cultural ecology in Southeast Asia and reflect the folklore of Southeast Asia. These 15 folktales are related to cultural interpretation, cultural ecology, and archaeological sites. The language of folktales is the key to spreading Buddhism.