In the past years, Thanh Hóa Museum has focused on doing research and collecting materials and artifacts of Đông Sơn Culture. We have collaborated with the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology and the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University to organize a number of archaeological excavations in such sites of Đông Sơn Culture as Đông Sơn, Thiệu Dương, Vực Thượng, Bản Khạt, Núi Sen etc. We have also constantly collected thousands of precious objects, which has helped to enrich our storage and serve the work of exhibition and communication.
At present, the Thanh Hóa Museum has six main exhibit rooms, among which, the gallery of Đông Sơn Culture is the core one that attracts the wider public. The content of this gallery consists of following themes:
1. Pre-Đông Sơn cultures:
The exhibition introduces collections of original artifacts: the collection of production tools (axes, stone hoes etc.); the collection of pottery pieces; the collection of jewelry including pottery leech-shaped earrings, stone beads etc. These artefacts were excavated in such sites as Hoa Lộc, Cồn Chân Tiên, Quỳ Chử... and became basis that proved the ongoing development of these cultures, which paved the way for the Đông Sơn Culture to be born and flourished.
2. Đông Sơn Culture:
In Đông Sơn period, the ancient Việt made from bronze or stone very unique sets of production tools, weapons, utensils, musical instruments, and jewelry. Đông Sơn bronze artefacts in Thanh Hóa are not only of various types in diverse forms and sizes but also bear great artistic values. In this period, the brassware industry was developed and reached its peak, which was represented through the collection of bronze drums (Heger type I). Thanh Hóa was the first site where a bronze drum was excavated. The Thanh Hóa Museum now has the biggest number of bronze drums in comparison to any institution over the whole country.
Nưa mountain short sword
Especially, in the Museum’s weapon collection, there is a unique, rare, and precious object, which is Núi Nưa short sword that was uncovered in Tân Ninh Commune, Triệu Sơn District. Together with Cẩm Giang bronze drum, they were two of the 37 Treasures recognized by the Prime Minister as the National Treasures via the Decision No. 2599/QĐ-TTg issued on December 30th, 2013.
3. Exchanges in Đông Sơn Culture:
Cẩm Giang I bronze drum
Đông Sơn Culture flourished from the late second-first century BC to the first-third century. Đông Sơn Culture was not assimilated by Han culture. On the contrary, it steadily absorbed Han culture to enrich the nation’s culture.
With nearly 600 original and typical artifacts that are introduced in the exhibitions, the exhibitions have made a contribution to the confirmation of the formation and ongoing development of Đông Sơn Culture in the evolution of Việt Nam’s history.
Hoàng Thị Chiến