NEW FINDINGS FROM TAN HUNG 3’S CIRCULAR EMBANKMENT SITE (BINH PHUOC PROVINCE)

Abstract

L. Malleret identified and announced the circular embankment site at Tan Hung 3 in 1959, which was later re-surveyed in 2001 and 2012-2013. In 2021, the Archeology Center of the Institute of Social Sciences of the Southern Region collaborated with the Binh Phuoc Museum to dig 8 small excavation holes to explore the features of the Tan Hung 3 site and relics. The findings indicate that the characteristics of monuments and relics at Tan Hung 3 are comparable to those found at other circular embankment sites in Binh Phuoc. However, the discovery of ceramic clusters that are presumably burials and agate jewelry relics in Tan Hung 3 relic is novel in comparison to other relics, revealing a wealth of knowledge on this type of relic in South Indochina. The absolute age of Tan Hung 3 was estimated using the AMS analytical method, which yielded values around 3,200 years ago.