VietNamNet Bridge – Ancient drums and hundreds of antiques of the Dong Son culture are on display at the National History Museum in Hanoi.

The exhibition aims to show viewers the beauty, history and culture of the 272 artifacts of the Dong Son Culture on display, some of which have been recognised as national treasures. The show will run until April.

Dong Son, dating back to 1000 BC, was a Metal Age archaeological culture.

It got its name from Dong Son Village on the bank of the Ma River in the central province of Thanh Hoa. A number of bronze drums were found by chance in 1924, marking the first evidence of the culture's existence.

Most artifacts found since were made from iron, stone, glass, wood and bronze. Archaeologists classified the objects into categories based on how they were used: tools, domestic wares, weapons, musical instruments and jewellery, among others.

The museum divided the exhibition into different sections based on the collections. One is a collection of miniatures.

In the Dong Son culture, the funeral ceremony was an important ritual. People buried tools, jewellery and weapons along with the dead. However, they were often broken, bent or arranged in a different manner from the living world. The ancient people also invented miniatures – small-scale tools and weapons to be buried, which helped save materials, time and energy.

Some artifacts on display at the exhibition:



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This bronze item, called Bao Thinh Jar, is a national treasure. It was discovered in the town of Yen (Yen Bai Province).

 

 

 

 

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A bronze drum named Lac, which was discovered in Lac Village, Nghe An Province.

 

 

 

 

 

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Subtle patterns on the surface of a bronze drum discovered in Coc Leu, Lao Cai Province.

 

 

 

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Tung Lam bronze drum found in Chuong My, Ha Noi.

 

 

 

 

 

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Motifs on the bronze drum found in Dong Xa, Hung Yen Province.

 

 

 

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A ceramic vase.

 

 

 

 

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Floral motifs on a bronze bell discovered in Moc Son, Thanh Hoa.

 

 

 

 

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Metal items of the Dong Son Civilisation.

 

 

 

 

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Ancient vases buried with the dead.

 

 

 

 

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This copper soup ladle was discovered in a tomb in Viet Khue, Hai Phong.

 

 

 

 

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The jewelries were found at the archaeological site of Vac village, Nghe An province.

 

 

 

 

 

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Bronze arrows found in Co Loa, Hanoi.

 

 

 

 

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Zing/VNA