Published:  00:00 Thursday - August 12, 2010

Thousands of Sa Huynh Culture artifacts, some dating back to the fifth century BC, have been discovered at Phu Truong in Phan Thiet after three months of excavations.

The Vietnam History Museum and the Binh Thuan Province Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said on August 10 they comprise 10,000 pottery pieces, 83 stone artifacts, and 13 copper, iron, and crystal items.

Pottery covered in floral patterns is a recurring theme, said archaeologists from the Vietnam History Museum and the Binh Thuan History Museum, who carried out the excavations.

Nguyen Xuan Ly, director of the museum, said the finds date from 2, 500 to 2,000 years ago.
Phu Truong is recognised as a major Sa Huynh Culture relics site, some others being Doc Chua in southern Binh Duong Province and Chinh Spring in central Quang Ngai province.

The Sa Huynh Culture thrived in central and southern Vietnam between 1,000 BC and AD 200 and, among other relics, left behind iron artifacts like axes, swords, and knives inside jars.