Viet Nam News
HA NOI — Scientists have gathered 20,000 objects dated back to the first century BC at an excavation in the southern province of An Giang. The results were announced at a workshop held on January 3.
Scientists focused on objects found at Linh Son Pagoda, a relic from the Oc Eo civilisation. It is sited at Trung Son Village in Oc Eo Town in Thoai Son District in An Giang Province.
Researcher Pham Van Trieu from the Viet Nam Social Sciences Academy, said since August, after a long time excavating the site, scientists erected 15 columns to mark the site. They have dug two pits, each covering 300sq.m, where they have defined five continuous historical periods ranging from the second to the 12th century AD.
In the pits, researchers found about 20,000 tiles, bricks and other architectural objects, ceramic ware (saucepans, bowls, dishes) and broken pieces of statues.
According to academy researcher Le Dinh Phung, the Oc Eo civilisation formed about 2,000 years ago in the south-western area of the country.
“The findings help us have a fresh look at a once flourishing civilisation – the Phu Nam [Funan, ancient Khmer] Civilisation in Southeat Asia,” he said, “From that, we may preserve and further research the culture’s values in a uniformed and scientific way.”
Researcher Nguyen Quang Thuan, chairman of the academy, said the excavation results at the pagoda confirmed that Oc Eo was associated with Phu Nam Kingdom, a great trading nation with contacts throughout South-east Asia and as far as India.
From the excavations, scientists can confirm that Oc Eo-Ba The used to be a large centre of economic-culture for Oc Eo-Phu Nam culture.
Nen Chua at that time was an important port, where goods were imported and exported for Oc Eo urban area and towns throughout Long Xuyen Quadrangle Area in particular and Southwestern region in general.
Oc Eo, in Thoai Son District, An Giang Province, was first discovered by Luis Malleret of the French School of Far East in 1944. After 1975, scientists continued to further excavate neighbouring the areas and found various other valuable sites. The sites that have been dug later in the area are also considered belong to Oc Eo Culture because Oc Eo was the first place unearthed and possessed the most typical relic sites of Phu Nam (Funan) Kingdom (68AD - 550AD). — VNS