An exhibition displaying over 300 ancient Oc Eo artefacts opened at the National Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh on November 29.

Ancient artefacts of Oc Eo culture (Photo: nld.com.vn)  

Flourishing between the first and seventh century, Phu Nam Kingdom covered a large area of the southern plain and hosted the Oc Eo culture in An Giang Province. After remaining forgotten and buried for thousands of years, traces of Oc Eo culture were finally discovered in Ba The-Oc Eo area in An Giang.

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

The civilisation produced many handicrafts, including ceramics, as well as the ability to refine copper, iron and tin, along with creating silver and gold jewellery. Statues were also unearthed.

Also on display is a collection of gold, silver and metal currency and jewellery, evidently very popular amongst the Oc Eo people, along with statues and reliefs of Buddha and Hindu gods such as Ganesh and Vishnu, which illustrate the ancient religious traditions of the southern region.

The exhibition is scheduled to run until March 3, 2018.

Nhan Dan