Viet Khe
Encyclopedia
Việt Khê is an archaeological site in the Red River Delta
in northern Vietnam
. Excavations there yielded a number of coffins containing relics of the Bronze Age
Dong Son culture
. The site is located on the southern base of a hill which overlooks the Hoa River in Haiphong Province
. Five wooden coffins were excavated, each of which were aligned in the east-west direction, with at least two pairs of coffins being configured in a linear manner.
Thirty-one pediform socketed axes with oval sockers were unearthed, in addition to two symmetrical axes with rectangular sockets and flared blades, and another two axes with blades almost parallel-sided.
The chisels found at the burial site were divided into three varieties of classifications, these being wide, pointed and small-gauge working ended chisels. The pediform axes found at Viet Khe differ from most other specimens of Dong Son culture, because they were plain in appearance and had very sparse ornamental decoration. Although some of the axes were used in woodworking, there were also a range of axes that appeared to be used for the purposes of weaponry.
The archaeologists involved in the excavations classified three types of socketed spearheads, two styles of socketed arrowhead, daggers with blades ranging up to 20 cm long and a sword almost 50 cm long. Four ring-handled knives were uncovered, with a Sinic origin or appearance.
One of the major artefacts uncovered at Viet Khe in terms of aesthetic impact were a set of bronze vessels, known as thap. These are tall vessels, similar in shape to vases, with slowly tapering sides and strap handles. The largest stands at 37 cm in its current fragmented condition, bearing panels of decorative artwork that combine spiral and geometric motifs. The panel also depicts scenes of plumed warriors travelling on dryland or on water transport associated with both avian and aquatic life.
The tho is a bronze hemispherical vessel with outward sloping sides standing on a low trpod pedestal, similar to an incense bowl. One of the examples recovered from Viet Khe stands 22.5 cm tall and is decorated with rows of spiral and geometric patterns.
The binh is a globular vessel, wider on the sides than vertically, standing on a high pedestal similar to a circular base. It has two handles at the top and its lid is decorated with further geometric decorations. One of the examples unearthed was 21 cm in height and 24.7 cm in diameter.
One example of the au, a basin with a handle, supported by a pedestal, was found at Viet Khe. A dinh, a basin supported by three legs was found, which resembled the li of China
. The khay is an artefact not similar to modern implements, consistings of a low tray wide large handles, decorated with triangular figures and spiral motifs. An am found in the excavation is a rounded vessel with a spout resembling that of a kettle, was undecorated and damaged.
A set of ornamented bronze ladles were also unearthed, all of approximately 20 cm long. One was decorated with depictions of flying birds and geometric patterns, while another showed a picture of a man playing music. The circular motifs in the artefacts excavated at Viet Khe were not restricted to the bronze specimens, with a piece of leather also being ornamented in this way. The coffins also held sooden hafts for use in speartips, impressions of matting on soul and items of lacquer, cloth and basketry.
23 cm wide showing the design of a central-rayed solar body, enveloped by four birds in flight. On a part of the mantle remains in existence, which contains artwork of a bird within a panel whose boundary is denoted by decorated circular bands. A set of musical bells was also found; some were decorated with local Dong Son artforms while others showed Chinese influences.
This is consistent with the impressions of the specimens by the archaeologists, who noted that despite the large quantity of material, they specimens were generally not intricately decorated, nor was the drum particularly large or detailed in its artwork. The burial site also had little trace of iron, which succeeded the Bronze Age.
Some of the finds also parallel the objects unearthed in Lingnan
in southern China
, notably, the dinh tripod, the ring-ended paring knife and the bronze sword, as well as the heads of some arrows and spears. These objects are also found at tonggugang in Guangdong
and Yinshangling in Guangxi
in southern China, sites that were dated to the Warring States period
.
Red River Delta
The Red River Delta is the flat plain formed by the Red River and its distributaries joining in the Thai Binh River in northern Vietnam. The delta measuring some 15,000 square km is well protected by a network of dikes. It is an agriculturally rich area and densely populated...
in northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam
For the former country, see North VietnamNorthern Vietnam is one of the three regions within Vietnam ....
. Excavations there yielded a number of coffins containing relics of the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
Dong Son culture
Dong Son culture
The Đông Sơn culture was a prehistoric Bronze Age age in Vietnam centered at the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam. At this time the first Vietnamese kingdoms of Văn Lang and Âu Lạc appeared...
. The site is located on the southern base of a hill which overlooks the Hoa River in Haiphong Province
Haiphong
, also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong...
. Five wooden coffins were excavated, each of which were aligned in the east-west direction, with at least two pairs of coffins being configured in a linear manner.
Artefacts
The largest coffin was that labelled as burial 2, spanning a length of 4.76 m, but no human remains were found in that coffin.Thirty-one pediform socketed axes with oval sockers were unearthed, in addition to two symmetrical axes with rectangular sockets and flared blades, and another two axes with blades almost parallel-sided.
The chisels found at the burial site were divided into three varieties of classifications, these being wide, pointed and small-gauge working ended chisels. The pediform axes found at Viet Khe differ from most other specimens of Dong Son culture, because they were plain in appearance and had very sparse ornamental decoration. Although some of the axes were used in woodworking, there were also a range of axes that appeared to be used for the purposes of weaponry.
The archaeologists involved in the excavations classified three types of socketed spearheads, two styles of socketed arrowhead, daggers with blades ranging up to 20 cm long and a sword almost 50 cm long. Four ring-handled knives were uncovered, with a Sinic origin or appearance.
One of the major artefacts uncovered at Viet Khe in terms of aesthetic impact were a set of bronze vessels, known as thap. These are tall vessels, similar in shape to vases, with slowly tapering sides and strap handles. The largest stands at 37 cm in its current fragmented condition, bearing panels of decorative artwork that combine spiral and geometric motifs. The panel also depicts scenes of plumed warriors travelling on dryland or on water transport associated with both avian and aquatic life.
The tho is a bronze hemispherical vessel with outward sloping sides standing on a low trpod pedestal, similar to an incense bowl. One of the examples recovered from Viet Khe stands 22.5 cm tall and is decorated with rows of spiral and geometric patterns.
The binh is a globular vessel, wider on the sides than vertically, standing on a high pedestal similar to a circular base. It has two handles at the top and its lid is decorated with further geometric decorations. One of the examples unearthed was 21 cm in height and 24.7 cm in diameter.
One example of the au, a basin with a handle, supported by a pedestal, was found at Viet Khe. A dinh, a basin supported by three legs was found, which resembled the li of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The khay is an artefact not similar to modern implements, consistings of a low tray wide large handles, decorated with triangular figures and spiral motifs. An am found in the excavation is a rounded vessel with a spout resembling that of a kettle, was undecorated and damaged.
A set of ornamented bronze ladles were also unearthed, all of approximately 20 cm long. One was decorated with depictions of flying birds and geometric patterns, while another showed a picture of a man playing music. The circular motifs in the artefacts excavated at Viet Khe were not restricted to the bronze specimens, with a piece of leather also being ornamented in this way. The coffins also held sooden hafts for use in speartips, impressions of matting on soul and items of lacquer, cloth and basketry.
Musical instruments
On the musical front, a small drum was found, with a tympanumDrumhead
A drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.-History:...
23 cm wide showing the design of a central-rayed solar body, enveloped by four birds in flight. On a part of the mantle remains in existence, which contains artwork of a bird within a panel whose boundary is denoted by decorated circular bands. A set of musical bells was also found; some were decorated with local Dong Son artforms while others showed Chinese influences.
Dating and analysis
Three radiocarbon dating figures have been ascertained from the coffin wood at Viet Khe. Taking into account the possibility that already long dead trees were used for constructing the coffins, archaeologists have estimated the age of the Viet Khe artefacts to be between 300 BCE and 500 BCE, which would place the Viet Khe site among the earlier of the Dong Son burial sites.This is consistent with the impressions of the specimens by the archaeologists, who noted that despite the large quantity of material, they specimens were generally not intricately decorated, nor was the drum particularly large or detailed in its artwork. The burial site also had little trace of iron, which succeeded the Bronze Age.
Some of the finds also parallel the objects unearthed in Lingnan
Lingnan
Lingnan is a geographic area referring to lands in the south of China's "Five Ranges" which are Tayu, Qitian, Dupang, Mengzhu, Yuecheng. The region covers the Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces of modern China and northern Vietnam...
in southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, notably, the dinh tripod, the ring-ended paring knife and the bronze sword, as well as the heads of some arrows and spears. These objects are also found at tonggugang in Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
and Yinshangling in Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
in southern China, sites that were dated to the Warring States period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
.