Dong-Son

A classic Bronze Age site in north Vietnam and its culture, dating c 500 BC to 100 AD. It was preceded by the Go Bong (c 2000-1500 BC), Dong-Dau (c 1500-100 BC), and Go Mun (c 1000-500 BC) phases of the Vietnamese Bronze Age. The Dong-son culture thus overlaps the Chinese conquest of northern Vietnam in 111 BC. Characteristic are large incised cast-bronze drums, bronze situlae (buckets), bells, tools, and weapons from elaborate boat burials and assemblages in lacquered wood coffins. Dong-son drums of presumed Vietnamese manufacture were traded through wide areas of Southeast Asia and southern China to as far as New Guinea, and the Dong-son bronze-working tradition was by far the richest and most advanced ever to develop in Southeast Asia. Iron was used for tools. There is evidence for developing urbanism in defensive earthworks and wet rice cultivation. Major sites include Chao Can, Viet Khe, Lang Ca, and Co Loa.

The classic Bronze Age of North Vietnam (bronze final), dated c500 be to ad 100 and preceded by the Go Bong (c2000-1500 be), Dong-dau (c1500-100 be) and Go Mun (cl000-500 be) phases of the Vietnamese Bronze Age. The Dong-son culture thus overlaps the Chinese conquest of northern Vietnam in 111 bc. Characteristic are large incised bronze drums, rich burial assemblages (in lacquered wood coffins at Viet-khe) and evidence for developing urbanism (defensive earthworks at CO-loa) based on wet rice cultivation. Dong-son drums of presumed Vietnamese manufacture were traded through vast areas of south China and Southeast Asia to as far as New Guinea, and the Dong-son bronze-working tradition was by far the richest and most advanced ever to develop in Southeast Asia. Most Vietnamese assemblages contain iron, although the culture is termed bronze finally Vietnamese archaeologists.