Exotic ceramics in Óc Eo culture through archaeological documents of Go Thap Relic Site (Dong Thap province, Vietnam)

Abstract

Oc Eo culture is the material civilization of Funan – an ancient state in Southeast Asian history, lasting from the 1st century to the 7th century A.D. and was centered on the lower Mekong Delta. The results of research on currencies, commodities, bronze statues, and seals, etc. of the kingdom such as gold coins in the time of Antonius Pius (138-161) and Marcus Aurelius (161-180) from Roma, bronze mirror dated from the later Han dynasty, bronze Buddha statue from the Northern Wei period, seals influenced by the culture of India, etc. show that Oc Eo is a culture with wide relations and exchanges with East Asia, South Asia to Western Asia and Rome in ancient times. However, there have not been many studies on exotic ceramics. Based on the new findings from the excavations at the Go Thap relic site (in Dong Thap, Vietnam) carried out by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City from 2010 to present, and based on the results of comparative research, this article presents some relics including Chinese pottery from the Eastern Han dynasty to the Southern Song dynasty, Indian pottery and pottery influenced by the culture of India found in Go Thap relic site; thereby, contributing to the demonstration that the international exchange development of Phu Nam not only took place in the western region of Hau river having the seaport but also developed in Oc Eo culture inland – the central region of Dong Thap Muoi. Go Thap relic site is an urban area, a cultural religious political economic and foreign trade center which plays an important role in the development of Oc Eo culture – Funan kingdom