Bronze drums dating back to 2,000 years were discovered in Dien Bien

The drum weighs about 20kg, 49cm high, 61cm in diameter, still quite intact. On the surface of the drum, there are 4 groups of single toad, located distributed, evenly spaced 4 corners, counterclockwise.

The ancient bronze drum in Dien Bien was discovered by Lo Van Viet (residing in Pa Ngam 1 village, Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district) on January 21 while working on a field near Huoi Hoa slit (about 1 block from Pa Ngam village). 2km).

The newly discovered bronze drum in Dien Bien weighs about 20kg, height 49cm, surface diameter of 61cm.(Photo: Khanh Chi).

Mr. Viet said, when hoeing a hoe to the ground heard a clang, he discovered a metal block. In it, he heard the sound of the metal being hollow inside, so he dug up and brought it to the government. The leader of Nua Ngam commune immediately announced the incident to the Heritage Department (Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province).

According to preliminary assessment of Dien Bien Provincial Museum, artifacts are a bronze drum weighing about 20kg. The drum surface is quite intact, face diameter is 61cm, height is 49cm. On the surface of the drum, there are 4 groups of single toad, located distributed, evenly spaced 4 corners, counterclockwise. The middle of the drum is the 12-pointed star symbol, which can symbolize for 12 months of the year or used to measure the time of the ancients. Many patterns such as rice, peanuts . were also discovered on the surface of this drum.

Based on the above factors, Director of Dien Bien Provincial Museum Trinh Thi Mai said, initially it can be said that this is a drum in the drum line Heger 3 (also known as Shan drum ) originating from Caren people red in northeastern Myanmar, dating back about 2,000 years ago. However, in order to prove the origin and origin of the drum, it is necessary to continue to study the cultural and historical values ​​of artifacts before making a report to the Ministry of Culture.

The fact that this drum has a round shape while the elliptical bottom is very different from other bronze drum objects discovered earlier.

According to experts, it is necessary to study carefully to determine whether this is an inherent form of drum or deformed due to being in the soil for a long time.