Paper short abstract:

This presentation aims to situate studies of ancient ornaments of Pre-Dong Son Cultures in Northern Vietnam to the broader study of acculturation from Later Neolithic to Bronze Period.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation aims to situate studies of ancient ornaments of Pre-Dong Son Cultures in Northern Vietnam to the broader study of acculturation from Later Neolithic to Bronze Period.

Stone ring ornaments are among the most characteristic artifacts of Pre-Dong Son Cultures - Later Neolithic Period to Early Bronze Period (Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, Go Mun Culture) in Northern Vietnam. Hong River valley has a concentration of workshop sites. We can identify the various types of stone ornaments and the manufacturing technique through research of workshop sites. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung has already outlined the assemblage of stone ornaments and those production techniques in her pioneering works. The presenter will, first, review and refine her research findings.

Second, this presentation will comparatively examine stone ring ornaments in China. Both areas have similarity shaped stone ring ornaments (for instance, famous T-section ring), as well as common techniques for ring ornament production (e.g. removing core technique). Chronologically, it may be concluded that the emergence of ring ornaments and its production technique in Northern Vietnam was the result of influence from Chinese ancient culture.

Consequently, the presenter will offer a comparative perspective by paying attention to dynamics of the acculturation as the result of the interrelation of both areas.

Paper short abstract:

By the morphological study on the ear ornaments widely distributed around the South China Sea during Iron Age, it is examined the production systems for manufacturing. This method makes it possible to identify the cultural sphere and how the exchange and the communication took place in the ancient world.

Paper long abstract:

The lingling-o type ear ornaments which have three projections and the double-headed animal ear ornaments have been thought as the earrings of Sa Huynh Culture due to those artifacts have common features such as material (Nephrite), unique form and its concentration of distribution in Vietnam. Some research projects within morphological classifications and chemical analysis on those earrings have been succeed to reveal "maritime silk road" and "intra and inter-regional trading networks" around the South China Sea during Iron Age.

In this paper, targeting two kinds of ear ornaments unearthed from related sites from 500BC to AD100. By observing the production marks on the surface of earrings, it can be reconstruct the certain chain of manufacturing techniques. At the same time, the availability of materials in each sites (only macroscopic observations are used in this study) are considered to organize the production systems. As a result, the acceptances and the developments of two types of ear ornaments are different between each area, especially in Central and South Vietnam, while it has been treated as same cultural assemblage in former study. Discussing the production system in detail, it can be recognize the intra/inter-region and the cultural sphere and examine how the exchange and the communication took place around the South China Sea during Iron Age.

Paper short abstract:

The focus of this paper is in the tracking of ornaments and artifacts which brought about the changes in belief, rituals, social and cultural aspects from the prehistoric to proto-historical period in early Myanmar and cultural links between China and Myanmar.

Paper long abstract:

The focus of this paper is in the tracking of ornaments and artifacts which brought about the changes in belief, rituals, social and cultural aspects from the prehistoric to proto-historical period in early Myanmar and cultural links between China and Myanmar.

Links between China and Myanmar could be identified from evidence of bronze artifacts and stone beads from the Samon Valley. Beads from the Samon Valley Bronze-Iron culture (circa 700 BC - 100 AD) are undeniably linked to the Western Zhou Dynasty where metal figurines of "tiger with cub in mouth" stand as proof of the association. Although the figurines are of different material (justifiably so with semi-precious stones available in abundance in Myanmar) the basic concept is observed to be the same. Culture and trade relationship can be inferred from other evidences such as bronze artifacts.

Gradual changes led the Samon Culture into the Pyu Era (200 BC - 900 AD), This transition period shifts the focus from China in the east to India in the west of Myanmar and links with the silk road of Asia.

All these links and their changes merging into one unique culture could be seen as a basic and crucial ingredient in the formation of the Pyu Culture (200 BC - 900 AD)

Paper short abstract:

This paper proposes that analysing the style, distribution and usage of ornaments on different social groups as depicted on the narrative reliefs of Borobudur and Prambanan may aid to a certain extent in reconstructing ancient Central Javanese society, and inform us of how they viewed themselves.

Paper long abstract:

This paper will consider objects of personal adornment and what they communicate about the ancient Central Javanese communities of the 8th to 9th centuries C.E. The principal source of information derives from the extensive narrative reliefs of the Lalitavistara (Life of the Buddha) on Borobudur and of the Ramayana on candi Loro Jonggrang, and also draws on corresponding archaeological artefacts. The aim is to elucidate on certain aspects of social interactions as represented by the depictions of society on these reliefs. From the style, distribution and usage of personal adornment in the reliefs, one may state that ornaments play a role in characterising different groups within a society, and hence allow the viewer to understand the different requirements of social behaviour within those idealised worlds. The approach used is mainly art historical and this paper will discuss the feasibility of such an approach, some preliminary findings, as well as what else may be done to achieve a more integrated overview of Old Javanese society through the lens of personal adornment, and to situate Java within the broader context of trans-regional contact and exchange in pre-modern Southeast Asia.

Paper short abstract:

New compositional data for glass beads from the Roman world in Iron Age context in Bali, hitherto unknown in Island Southeast Asia, and gold ornaments of possible western origin, provide strong evidence linking the sites of Pangkung Paruk and Sembiran/Pacung to early trans-Asiatic networks.

Paper long abstract:

Centrally located along the Sunda Island maritime route between western and eastern Indonesia, the northern coast of Bali has produced secure evidence for its involvement in multiple trans-Asiatic networks across the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE. In this paper we focus on new compositional evidence for Roman world glass beads and gold ornaments of possible western origin in dated context at the Iron Age sites of Sembiran/Pacung and Pangkung Paruk. The Pangkung Paruk Roman gold-glass beads constitute the largest known cluster of Roman glass in Southeast Asia. These data shed new light on the significance of Indonesia in early trans-Asiatic networks in terms of western routes and chronology.

Paper short abstract:

This presentation explores glass production, trade and use in the upper Thai-Malay Peninsula during the Iron Age and the early historical period looking at glass compositions.

Paper long abstract:

Recent research conducted by the 2011-2014 Thai-French Archaeological Mission in the Thai-Malay Peninsula found new evidence for glass ornament production, trade and use during the Iron Age and early historical period. Eleven sites located along different river systems, explored in order to gain a better understanding of the interactions between populations belonging to different environments (maritime, coastal and inland), yielded glass material including beads, bracelets and glass wastes. Depending on the types of glass found at a given site, a chronology can be proposed as well as a possible connection to a specific trade network. Two sites yielded evidence of glass ornament manufacturing. Glass bead and bracelet production dating to the 4th c-2nd c. BC was identified at the coastal port settlement of Khao Sek, bordering the River Langsuan. Strong similarities appear between this site and Khao Sam Khaeo, located 80 km north of Khao Sek, suggesting that both ornament producing centers were part of the same trading polities. Upstream the River Langsuan, at the confluence of the river Pak Soong, the mission identified other evidence of glass ornament production at the inland site of Ban Na Hyan. This production would have post-dated that of Khao Sek and Khao Sam Khaeo suggesting maybe a re-organization of the glass activities in this region after these two centers ceased their production with a fragmentation of the industry in smaller centers devoted to local markets. This shift could be due to a political reorganization, perhaps following the collapse of the main regional trading polities.

Paper short abstract:

Glass Bead is the one of archaeological artifact found in several Dvaravati sites in the Central Region of Thailand. This research analyses glass beads from 14 excavation sites by EPMA and LA-ICP-MS for study the relationship between Dvaravati ancient cities and other sites in the same period.

Paper long abstract:

This research aims to study the chemical elements of the Dvaravati period (6th to the 13th centuries AD) glass beads from 14 excavation sites in the Central Region of Thailand. Electron Probe Micro Analyser (EPMA) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are applied to analyses the chemical grouping of the glass beads.

The result of chemical analysis showed that the glass beads were categorized in 7 groups based on their chemical elements, which were faience, K, m-Na-Al, m-Na-Ca, Pb, v-Na-Al, and v-Na-Ca. Most of the beads found were m-Na-Al which was related with the Indo-Pacific beads that was also largely found in the same period in Southeast Asian. In addition, the other glass beads could lead to the assumption of bead trading between Southeast Asia and other regions, such as faience and m-Na-Ca beads from the Roman Empire, K beads from India or Southeast Asia, Pb from China, v-Na-AI from the North Sumatra Island and v-Na-Ca from the Middle East.

Paper short abstract:

This research analyses Iron Age glass beads from Kiwulan in northeastern Taiwan by EPMA and LA-ICP-MS, in an attempt to understand the relationship to glass beads in contemporary Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

Paper long abstract:

This research investigates glass beads unearthed from Kiwulan, a site in northeastern Taiwan. The C-14 data for the finds location suggests an Iron Age date around the 6th to 14th century AD. EPMA and LA-ICP-MS are used in this research to establish the chemical grouping of the glass beads through major, minor and trace elemental patterns. The results reveal the presence of m-Na-Al glass and plant ash glass in similar proportions. The m-Na-Al glass shows low U and high Ba, Sr and Zr, which probably suggests the similarity to m-Na-Al 1 glass in contemporary Southeast Asia. The colour of most of the m-Na-Al glass is orange, while in plant ash glass both yellow and blue glass are found.

Further to these findings, some glass beads have a blue glass body made of plant ash but an orange surface made of m-Na-Al glass. This particular glass is also found in the northern Taiwan site of Shihsanhang, but is rarely reported in contemporary Southeast Asia. Further comparison between glass beads from Kiwulan and Shihsanhang generally suggests similar typology and chemical composition in certain groups of glass beads, and thus may indicate the possibility of similar source, or exchange, of these glass beads in northern Taiwan.

Paper short abstract:

In S-SE Asia, there are several sites considered as production base of Indo-Pacific Beads (IPB), which are the most common artifacts in this area. IPB also reached Far East by trade. In this study, we discuss the production areas of IPB based on the chemical compositions and lead isotope ratios.

Paper long abstract:

Indo-Pacific beads are the most important archaeological objects which indicate that Korean Peninsula and Japan located in the Eastern end in the Eurasian Continent were related to South East Asia and South India by maritime trade. It has been thought that Indo-Pacific beads had been begun in South India and the production areas were spread to trading ports in Southeast Asia with technological transfer. That is, identification of production areas of Indo-Pacific beads is also important related to an issue of civilization in the Southeast Asia.

From the progress in the chemical analysis of glass, the compositional diversity of Indo-Pacific beads has become clear. Nevertheless, each production area which corresponds to each compositional group has not been identified yet. Main causes of this situation are as follows. First of all, the relations between the making techniques and the material aren't considered sufficiently. Second, a lot of objects whose historical ages are unknown have been analyzed.

We analyzed the chemical compositions of the Indo-Pacific beads unearthed in Japan and compared with those from Southeast Asia. At that time, we made the chronological changes of each compositional group of IPB clear by analyzing only the objects whose historical ages are definite. Furthermore, we tried to narrow down the production areas of Indo-Pacific beads by using lead isotope ratios.

Paper short abstract:

Many Indo-Pacific beads were used in the regions between the southern part of Korean peninsula and Japanese archipelago from around 1st century BCE. The presenter indicates that the trade route of these beads was via Lelang commandery, rather than a direct one from South India or Southeast Asia.

Paper long abstract:

Many Indo-Pacific beads were used in the regions between the southern part of Korean peninsula and Japanese archipelago from around 1st century BCE. These beads were, of course, imported from South India or Southeast Asia, because people in Korean peninsula and Japanese archipelago could not make them by the dawn method at that time.

At present, there are two hypotheses regarding the trade route of Indo-Pacific beads. One is the hypothesis that these beads were imported directly from Jiangnan region, located in the southern part of China. The other is the hypothesis that they were imported via Lelang commandery, established in the northern part of Korean peninsula.Although some researchers indicated that it is very difficult to sail directly from Jiangnan region to the southern part of Korean peninsula or to Japanese archipelago, the latter hypothesis have been firmly supported.

In this study, I tried to re-examine the trade routes of the Indo-Pacific beads used in Korean peninsula and Japanese archipelago by comparing them with the beads used in Lelang commandery. As a result, the beads found in Lelang commandery and in the southern part of Korean peninsula are closely related. Therefore, there is a high possibility that Indo-Pacific beads used in the regions between Korean peninsula and Japanese archipelago were imported via Lelang commandery.