Thailand hunts for missing ancient site treasures but in doing so, it walks diplomatic tightrope

Tourists looking at an ancient Dharmachakra artefact at the Si Thep historical site in Thailand. - AFP

SI THEP, Thailand (AFP): Under the scorching sun, Thai archaeologist Tanachaya Tiandee clambers through ruined pagodas in the ancient town of Si Thep, trying to unlock their mysteries -- a task made harder because parts of the puzzle are missing thanks to decades of looting.

Thailand has a rich collection of historical sites, but foreign looting has stripped many of them, leaving the country scrambling to repatriate its stolen cultural wealth.