A wooden burial jar with bronze drum discovered in Phu Chanh commune in the southern province of Binh Duong has been recognised as a national treasure by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The wooden burial jar with
bronze drum was discovered in Phu Chanh commune of Binh Duong province (Photo:
VNA)
The object was uncovered in
late 1998 by Nguyen Van Cuong residing in Vinh Tan commune on a paddy field in
Phu Chanh commune, Tan Uyen town, at a depth of around 1.8-2.5m.
The wooden burial jar is about 61cm high with its mouth at a diameter of
46-50cm.
The bronze drum is close to 40cm high with a drumhead diameter of 47.5cm and
base diameter of 44cm.
The concentric drumhead has a 10-point star and it is simply decorated with
inverted "v” shaped patterns.
Do Thi Tien, Deputy Director of the Binh Duong Museum, said the artifact is
dated to the second and the first century BC (nearly 2,000 years ago).
This is a new type of tomb, the first to be discovered in the archaeological
history of Vietnam and the world, she added.
The use of a wooden jar with a bronze drum as a coffin is a new piece of
information while studying the lifestyles of ancient resident communities in
the southeastern region, Tien said.
Apart from the wooden burial jar, Binh Duong is preserving another national
treasure namely Doc Chua animal statue which was made around 3,000 years ago in
the shape of a four-legged animal with a long head, and found in Doc Chua
archaeological site.
So far, a total of 164 artifacts have been recognised as national treasures.
Source: VNA
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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