Đông Sơn culture

The Dong Son culture ( vietn. Văn Đồng Sơn Hóa ) existed from about 800 BC -200 AD in northern Vietnam and southern China. It marks the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in South Asia. Your typical artifacts (often very elaborate bronze objects ) are found far to Oceania in, where they probably came through trade.

The Dong Son culture had its core area in the valleys of the rivers Hong, Ma and Ca. In the north it is attested to the border of present-day Vietnam, in the south to Quảng Bình.

The Dong Son culture is characterized by a large number of different bronze objects. There are Bronzepflüge, axes, weapons and richly decorated bronze vessels. Especially typical are bronze drums, of which over 200 are known so far. Iron was also known. There were weapons, tools and jewelry.

The pottery is rather simple and usually shows an indented line motif on the outside.

Settlements are usually close to rivers and are relatively small, from 100 sqm up to one acre in size. Cemeteries are found separated from the settlements. The dead are usually as inhumations in wooden coffins (which were often made of boats ) were buried with grave goods.

Rice farming was the economic base. The Bronzes of the Dong Son culture found in southern China and in the field of Sa - Huynh culture. They prove trade relations.