An international seminar on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Sa Huynh civilisation will take place in the central province of Quang Ngai from July 22-27.

Sa Huynh coastal area in Pho Thanh commune, Duc Pho district, Quang Ngai province, where French archaeologist Vinet discovered over 200 ancient tombs belonging to the Sa Huynh civilisation in 1909.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ngai has received around 50 documents from Vietnamese and foreign scientists which will be presented at the upcoming seminar.

The event will be held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Quang Ngai authorities on the occasion of 100^th year of the discovery of the Sa Huynh civilisation. The seminar will attract over 70 Vietnamese and foreign scientists.

On this occasion, Quang Ngai will display antiques belonging to the Sa Huynh culture unearthed in the central region, and organise various cultural and art activities related to the Sa Huynh culture.

Traces of the Sa Huynh culture were found for the first time in Sa Huynh, Quang Ngai province in 1902.

The Sa Huynh culture flourished between 1000 BC and 200 AD in central and southern Vietnam. The Sa Huynh people were most likely the predecessors of the Cham people, the founders of the kingdom of Champa. Sa Huynh sites were rich in locally-worked iron artifacts, typified by axes, swords, spearheads, knives and sickles. In contrast, bronze artifacts were dominant in the Dong Son culture sites found in northern Vietnam and elsewhere on mainland Southeast Asia.

The Sa Huynh culture cremated adults and buried them in jars covered with lids, a practice unique to the culture. Ritually broken offerings usually accompanied the jars. The culture is also unique for its ear ornaments featuring two-headed animals. The ornaments were commonly made of jade (nephrite), but also glass. Glass bead ornaments were also commonly found in Sa Huynh burial sites.

The Sa Huynh culture shows evidence of an extensive trade network. Sa Huynh beads were made of glass, carnelian, agate, olivine, zircon, gold and garnet; most of these materials were not found locally. Han Dynasty-style bronze mirrors have also been found in Sa Huynh sites.

There are 48 relics related to the Sa Huynh culture ranging from the central province of Quang Binh to the southern province of Dong Nai.

VietNamNet/TT