Dr. Pham Van Trieu from the Institute of Archaeology under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) said at a conference in An Giang province on January 3 that the objects, including construction materials, household utensils and pieces of stones, were found in two holes, each measuring 300 sq.m. 

Such artefacts may date back from the 1st century BC to the 12th century AD, the archaeologist said. 

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One of the two holes where the artefacts were found in Linh Son pagoda 

He added the excavations also uncovered five layers of culture belonging to five periods which lasted from the 2nd-12th century AD. 

Dr. Le Dinh Phung, also from the institute, said that Oc Eo culture was formed 2,000 years ago in the southwestern region. 

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, President of the VASS, said Oc Eo culture was associated with the Phu Nam Kingdom, which flourished between the first and the seventh century. 

Excavation findings reveal that Oc Eo-Ba The was an urban area and a big economic-cultural centre of the Oc Eo-Phu Nam culture. Nen Chua was an important port which handled exports and imports of the Oc Eo urban area and other localities in the Long Xuyen Quadrilateral Region in particular and the southwestern region in general. 

In 1944, French archaeologist Louis Mallecet carried out excavations at the site, along with his colleagues from the French School of the Far East. They unearthed objects offering proof of a flourishing civilization and well-developed trade with other areas in Southeast Asia. 

People in the Phu Nam civilization produced many handicrafts, including ceramics, and had the ability to refine copper, iron and tin, along with creating silver and gold jewellery.

Source: VNA