Oc Eo - Traces of an ancient culture

- The Oc Eo culture is one of the three ancient cultures in Vietnam, including Dong Son, Sa Huynh, and Oc Eo. Since the Oc Eo culture became known, numerous relics, artifacts, scientific documents, and research results from experts and archaeologists both domestically and internationally have contributed to proving and clarifying the history of the formation and development of this ancient culture in Vietnam.

An Giang leaders survey the Oc Eo - Ba The National Special Monument.

The Oc Eo culture is a scientific term referring to an archaeological culture that formed and developed from the 1st to the 7th centuries, possibly extending to the early 8th century, in the lower Mekong River basin, in what is now Southern Vietnam. This was the material culture of the Funan Kingdom, an early state in Southeast Asia with a wide-ranging influence in the region and Asia. This culture had indigenous origins, built upon the foundation of the pre-Oc Eo culture.

On September 27, 2012, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1419/QD-TTg classifying the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological and architectural site (Thoai Son district) as a Special National Monument, in order to honor the immense values ​​of one of the three ancient cultures in Vietnam.

From 2017 to 2020, the Institute of Archaeology and the Institute of Social Sciences of the Southern Region conducted large-scale archaeological excavations at the Oc Eo - Ba The site. The results of these excavations revealed many important types of relics, such as: temple and tower architecture, stilt house settlements, various types of wells and water reservoirs constructed with bricks, stones, and wood, along with numerous traces of handicraft production, jewelry made of precious stones, glass, and gold... These valuable and important sources of information have convincingly proven that the Oc Eo culture existed for nearly eight centuries (from the beginning of the Common Era to the beginning of the 8th century), with the 4th-6th centuries being the most flourishing period of the ancient city of Oc Eo and the Funan Kingdom.

Currently, in addition to preserving, protecting, restoring, and promoting the values ​​of the relics, An Giang province is actively preparing scientific dossiers to submit to UNESCO for recognition of the Oc Eo - Ba The National Special Relic Site as a World Cultural Heritage site.

TRONG TIN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-24-gio/thoi-su/oc-eo-dau-tich-nen-van-hoa-co-a413783.html