An Son
An Sơn (Long An) · An Sơn Neolithic · An Son Mekong Mound · An Son Early Rice
Southern Vietnam Neolithic 2300–1200 BCE (An Son phase)·Southern Neolithic (Mekong) → Bronze transitional·🇻🇳 Long An Province, Đức Hòa District, An Sơn mound on Vàm Cỏ Đông terrace north of Mekong Delta, Vietnam
About
About An Son
Mekong's Neolithic frontier — An Sơn mound north of the Mekong Delta (c.2300–1200 BCE), Vietnam's earliest inland Neolithic rice mound (200 mm? — H. Matsumura–C. Bulbeck 2009 final volume). Five excavations since 1978 (William Watson, Nishimura–Nishimura, Peter Bellwood team) define raised-floor village mound 1.2 m over alluvium with rice (Oryza sativa japonica), shouldered adze, An Son incised ware (saw-tooth), shell bracelet, and extended burials with Australian Aboriginal-like robusticity (Matsumura craniometric). An Sơn is the Mekong anchor of southern Vietnam Neolithic bridging Phung Nguyen north to Oc Eo Funan south.
Why it mattersSouthern Vietnam's Neolithic frontier proving Mekong japonica rice antecedes Funan trade and bridging Phung Nguyen north–Oc Eo south.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Robusticity Matsumura crania — autochthonous or Australo-melanesian reflux?
- 02Shell bracelet exchange — inland vs coastal coral?
Theories
- 01An Son as Austronesian rice dispersal node via Mekong (Bellwood)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2300 BCE Neolithic founding on Vàm Cỏ Đông levee
- Period
- Southern Vietnam Neolithic 2300–1200 BCE (An Son phase)
- Culture
- Southern Neolithic (Mekong) → Bronze transitional
- Builders
- Mekong Delta early rice farmers (Austroasiatic–Austronesian fringe)
- Purpose
- Mekong levee rice farming mound and shell-bracelet production gateway to delta
- Abandoned
- c.1200 BCE with delta transgression reorientation to Oc Eo
- Rediscovered
- 1978 initial mound test; 1997, 2004, 2007, 2009 full campaigns (Nishimura–Bellwood)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2300–1800 BCE
Early An Son — raised-floor village, Oryza japonica, saw-tooth incised ware, shell bracelets
c.1800–1200 BCE
Mature An Son — 1.2 m mound crest, extended burials, adze/jade transfer
1978
First mound sounding (Watson)
2009
Bellwood–Nishimura final — An Son early rice definitive volume (AD- 197–2014)
On the ground
Structures & features
10.8500° N · 106.3500° E · 5 m · 2 mapped features
An Son Raised-Floor Village Horizon
settlementRaised-floor village with 1.5 m post-holes, saw-tooth incised ware and japonica rice horizon (mound centre)
10.8503° N · 106.3503° EAn Son Shell Bracelet Workshop and Cemetery
workshopTridacna shell bracelet workshop with extended burials and adze scatter (south mound flank)
10.8497° N · 106.3497° E
Gallery