Thousands of Sa Huynh Culture artefacts, some dating back to the fifth century BC, have been discovered at Phu Truong in Phan Thiet after three months of excavations.
The Vietnam History Museum and the Binh Thuan Province Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said on August 10 the finds comprise 10,000 pottery pieces, 83 stone artefacts, and 13 copper, iron, and crystal items.
Pottery covered in floral patterns is a recurring theme. Archaeologists from the Vietnam History Museum and the Binh Thuan History Museum carried out the excavations and Nguyen Xuan Ly, director of the museum, said the finds are 2,500 to 2,000 years old.
Phu Truong is recognised as a major site for Sa Huynh Culture relics, along with Doc Chua in southern Binh Duong Province and Chinh Spring in central Quang Ngai province.
The Sa Huynh Culture thrived in central and southern Vietnam between 1,000 BC and AD 200 and, left behind iron artefacts like axes, swords, and knives inside jars and many other relics.
Source: Nhan Dan [August 12, 2010]