Sa Huy ure: Recent Di es

NGO SY HONG

to the Metal Age in were discovered 75 ago. discoveries are now Sa Huynh culture. mation culture is limited to jar of habitation are virtually unknown. Concerning its origin, many scholars suggest that its bearers came from Island Southeast Asia. It was originally classified as , but later revised as . Since 1975, 38 Sa Huynh culture sites have been identified, in addition to the 12 previ­ ously known. Some major sites have since been excavated on a large scale. From new data, we are able to discern an earlier stage of the Sa Huynh culture which belongs to the Age. Typical of this early stage is the site of Long Thanh in Nghia Binh Prov- ince, central Viet Nam, which has two radiocarbon both on charcoal, of 3370 ± 40 b.p. 2875 ± 60 b.p. (at 0.6 2(94). At habitation layer is 2 yielded stone pestles, stones, earthenware and thousands of artifacts are similar to sites such as Bau Tro. that from contemporaneous such as Phung Nguyen Hoa Lac. distinguishable from cultures in terms of its flower- vase, ring-footed and long-necked vessel shapes. The burial jars of this stage are egg­ shaped, whereas those of the later period are cylindrical. Decorative techniques at Long Thanh include incision, shell-edge impression, and painting. Motifs are mostly curvili­ near scrolls. This early stage finishes with the Binh Chau site in Nghia Binh Province, which has produced an elaborate bronze industry which includes axes, knives, molds, and crucibles. Painting becomes more common on the Binh Chau pottery. and in addition to the black previously appear new colors: white, Eighteen belonging to the later Huynh culture have identified is significant to point situated in mountainous found in the Quang Nam-Da just north of Nghia iron tools appear in common implements such

Ngo Sy Hong is affiliated with the Institute of Archaeology, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

IUYNH CULTURE 155

DATE OF CULTURAL DISCOVERY LOCALITY 32 Nui Ngang 1978 Nghia Binh Late 33 Cu LaoRe 1978 34 An My (Tra Dorn) 1979 Gia Rai-Cong Late N colithicl

Bau Can 1956 Gia Tum

Phuoc Hai 1983 Phu XomCon 1980 My Tuong 1979 ThuanHai 39 Hon 1979 40 1978 41 1975 42 Bau 1975 43 MyLai 1975 44 Hang 1968 DongNai 45 Phu 110a 1971 46 Giay 1966 47 Dong Lang 1978 Thuan Hai Suoi Chon 1976 Dong Cuong Ha 1935 Bin!! Thien Co Giang 1935