Ancient road network in Vietnam

Australian archaeologists discovered an ancient trade route network in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

Scientists at the Australian National University (ANU) found a large network of production centers and trade routes that act as cargo carriers between settlements in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Male, about 3,000 - 4,500 years ago. The research results are published in Antiquity magazine, UPI reported on August 18.

The team unearthed some stone tools at the archaeological site of Rach Nui in Long An province. These artifacts include a sharpening stone made of sandstone derived from a quarry located about 80km from the Dong Nai river valley.

Australian archaeologists discovered many stone artifacts at the site of the Rach Nui excavation.(Photo: ANU).

"We know some artifacts are transported from one place to another. This shows evidence of a large commercial network including professional tool manufacturing centers and technology knowledge" , Catherine Frieman, a member of the research team, said.

Frieman said the Rach Nui area has no stone resources. So people have to import stones from elsewhere and work with it to produce artefacts. People became experts in stone tools, although they did not live near any quarry.

Newly discovered trade routes help us better understand the transition from hunter-gatherer communities to agricultural settlements in southern Vietnam. When people established settlements, they developed their own physical and economic culture.

"There are many complex trading networks appearing among communities. Some networks are the result of transporting materials and production ideas over a long distance , " Frieman said.