During the survey of archaeological sites and monuments in Quang Nam, we used field survey methods combined with GPS/GIS positioning software to collect field data.
Law of distribution of relics
According to that rule, when investigating, surveying, and checking the bends along the main river branches and tributaries in the mountainous area of Quang Nam, we discovered many new Sa Huynh cultural relics.
In Bac Tra My district, previously, during the 2001 survey by the archaeological team led by Professor Mariko Yamagata, Bui Chi Hoang and other archaeologists, two Sa Huynh cultural sites underground on the Truong River were discovered: the Tran Duong group and the Mau Long group.
Here, when observing a landslide area, archaeologists discovered a jar bottom, containing an iron knife and some Sa Huynh culture pottery pieces. The area of distribution of relics along the Truong River underground is about 100m long.
During the 2024 survey, we discovered two more sites with traces of the Sa Huynh culture. On a high, fairly flat mound, about 500m long, on the Truong River, called Bai Dai, in Long Son village, Tra Son, Bac Tra My, local people said that when they were preparing the land for growing crops, they discovered many pots and broken pieces floating thickly.
After the floods receded, many large ceramic jars were also found broken and exposed on the surface of the mound. However, because the value of these jar tombs was not known, they were not excavated. In the remaining land where crops were grown, we still found many small pieces of broken Sa Huynh ceramics.
The second site is located on both sides of the Nuoc Oa bridge over the Truong River. On the flat land used for growing crops, we discovered some pieces of Sa Huynh ceramic containers.
Add new findings
Phuoc Son district has not previously found any traces of archaeological sites. However, recently, at a riverside alluvial area in Hamlet 2, Phuoc Hiep commune, we discovered many pieces of Sa Huynh ceramic containers.
In addition, according to Ms. Ho Thi Phien in Hamlet 5, Ba Xa, a few years ago, when she went to pick fern, she discovered a ceramic jar about 1 meter high, collapsed right next to the forest trail in Ong Cho hill. However, this ceramic jar was later dug up by the locals so it is unclear what was inside the jar.
Along the Tra River, in Hiep Duc District, we previously discovered a bronze drum at the site of Khe Lanh Anh (now in Song Tra Commune, formerly in Hamlet 1B, Phuoc Tra Commune, so it is often called Phuoc Tra bronze drum). This garden is currently planted with acacia trees, and also has great potential for archaeological excavation to learn more about the Sa Huynh culture in the mountainous region of Quang Nam.
In the lower section of the Tra River, in the Truong River area where the Tra River and the Tranh River intersect, in the communes of Hiep Hoa, Hiep Thuan, and Tan Binh town of Hiep Duc district, during the survey along the river, 14 new sites with traces of Sa Huynh culture were discovered.
For further verification, in May and June 2024, Quang Nam Museum conducted an archaeological survey at Tho Chua site in Hiep Hoa commune, Hiep Duc district. The results of the 21m2 excavation revealed traces of 1 earthen tomb, 1 jar tomb and 2 jar tombs with many burial objects and traces of residential sites.
In Dong Giang district, for the first time, traces of Sa Huynh culture were also recorded on a strip of land next to an upstream branch of Vu Gia river. The river in this area is called Pa Con river, located in Cho Net village, A Ting commune.
According to local people, about 20 years ago, when farming on a plot of land next to the Pa Con River, people discovered an area with many ceramic jars, inside the jars contained many agate beads. Because agate is a favorite jewelry of the Co Tu people, the people here dug up many ceramic jars.
Potential for new research
Up to now, most of the Sa Huynh cultural sites in the upper Thu Bon River and Vu Gia River branches have not been fully and comprehensively excavated and studied archaeologically.
However, the discovered traces of Sa Huynh culture show that the density of Sa Huynh culture sites in the mountainous region of Quang Nam is quite dense, concentrated on mounds and flat lands along both river banks.
Commonly in these locations, people discovered large cylindrical jars, inside the jars were many bronze and iron objects and various types of jewelry made of agate, glass, terracotta, etc.
This research result not only contributes to adding new awareness to Sa Huynh culture, but also partly reflects the thinking and concept of ancient residents in choosing residential areas and burying tombs.
They may have used the bends of river flows as a way to mark the burial sites of the tombs. In the river basins with favorable natural geographical conditions, it attracted the settlement and living of ancient residents.
The discovery of the distribution rules as well as these new archaeological sites will contribute significantly to the future research of Sa Huynh culture in Quang Nam in particular and the Central strip of Vietnam in general.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/tu-dia-van-hoa-nghi-ve-sa-huynh-3143358.html
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