Vietnam’s ancient Dong Son drum found in Timor Leste

A relatively intact bronze drum believed to belong to the Dong Sonculture, originating in Vietnam over 2,000 years ago, has recently beendiscovered in Timor Leste.

The drum, 1.03 metres in diameter, 78 cm in height, and 80kg in weight,was found accidentally at a construction site in Baucau, the secondlargest city in Timor Leste, in late 2014. However, official informationwas just released in late November this year after researchers hadconducted preliminary assessment.

Archaeologist Nuno Vasco Oliveira from the Timor Lester Government’sGeneral Directorate of Art and Culture said he is certain that the itemis a Dong Son bronze drum – an icon of the Dong Son culture (700 B.C. –100 AD) of the ancient Vietnamese people.

This is not the first time a Dong Son drum has been found in TimorLeste. The ones previously unearthed were badly damaged while the newlyfound item is in a relatively good condition.

Oliveira said this drum is one of the most intact Dong Son drums that have ever been discovered in Southeast Asia.

Local scientists will continue restoring the object, which is being keptby the General Directorate, and expand excavation near the drum’slocation.

Samples of the drum will also be sent to France for in-depth analysis ofits material and age. Timor Leste experts believe that it dates back atleast 2,000 years.

A number of stone carvings similar to patterns on Dong Son drums hadpreviously been dug up in the east of the Southeast Asian country andthe discovery of Dong Son drums provides a strong evidence of thepresence of the Dong Son culture in there millennia ago, he said,expressing his hopes for coordination with Vietnamese colleagues instudying that drum.

Dong Son drums are iconic items of the ancient Vietnamese’s Dong Sonculture, a Metal Age archaeological culture. They are usually big andhave well-proportioned shapes, showing high production skills andaesthetics of the ancient people.

The Dong Son culture got its name from Dong Son village on the bank ofthe Ma River in the central province of Thanh Hoa. A number of bronzedrums were found by chance in 1924, marking the first evidence of theculture’s existence.

VNA

Vietnam’s ancient Dong Son drum found in Timor Leste

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