Pottery items with round bottoms and bell mouths, decorated simply and painted after being baked, are specific items from the Xom Con culture of the central province of Khanh Hoa. The items were dated as coming from 3,500 to 4,000 years B.C.
In 1979, Xom Con in Cam Ranh town was discovered. This is the first archaeological site unearthed along the central coast and is considered the culture that bridges the cultures of the Dong Nai river region and the central highland region.
At an international workshop on pre-historic archaeology in Khanh Hoa held by the Vietnam Archaeolgoy Institute and Khanh Hoa Museum early this week, over 60 experts from Japan, China, Cambodia, the US, and Vietnam presented nearly 20 presentations evaluating archaeological works conducted in Khanh Hoa from 2005 to 2010.
The Van Tu Dong archaeological site in Cam Hoa commune, excavated in 2006, dates back 3,500-3,000 years B.C. Pieces of pottery, mollusk shells, fish, and animal bones found in this site prove that this site belongs to a type of Kjokenmodding (kitchen rubbish).
The Hoa Diem – Duoi Mound – Mieu Mound site in the Cam Thinh Dong commune is the home to pottery tombs. Dr. Mariko from Japanese Waseda University said that pottery tombs in Hoa Diem are similar to pottery items discovered in Kalanay Cave on Masbate Island in the Philippines.
At the Vinh Yen site, archaeologists unearthed three bronze casting moulds and some bronze items in 2007 and 2009, showing that local residents had close relations with the bronze casting tradition at relics in the southern region like Cai Lang, Bung Bac, and Bung Thom in the downstream of the Dong Nai river and relics along the Mekong River like Non Nok Tha in Thailand.
Archaeologists also introduced other relics like Cu Hin, Cay Gang Mound, and Co Don Hill. They said that all of these relics belonged to Xom Con culture.
The Xom Con archaeological site comprises eight locations along Khanh Hoa coast and on some islands near the shore. Specific items unearthed include stone and bone made items, jewelry, pottery, and mollusk shells.
Xom Con pottery items have round bottoms and bell mouths, decorated by painting colors on the cover. Only Xom Con potteries are decorated this way in Vietnam.
Source: Vietnam Net [August 06, 2010]