1999 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Archaeological Study on the Mekhong Civilization
| Project/Area Number |
09041024
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A).
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
考古学(含先史学)
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| Research Institution | Kagoshima University |
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Principal Investigator |
NITTA Eiji Kagoshima University, Faculty of Law, Economics and Humanities, Professor, 法文学部, 教授 (00117532)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
NISHITANI Masaru National Museum of Japanese History, Department of Archaeology, Research Associate, 考古研究部, 助手 (50218161)
INOUE Kazuto Nara National Institute of Cultural Accets, Director of the First Laboratory of Archaeology, 平城宮跡発掘調査部, 考古第一調査室長 (60110087)
WATANABE Yoshiro Kagoshima University, Faculty of Law, Economics and Humanities, Associate Professor, 法文学部, 助教授 (10210965)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1997 – 1999
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| Keywords | Mekhong River / Bronze Drum / River Transportation / Civilization / Early States in Southeast Asia / Champassac / Khorat Plateau / Iron and Salt |
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| Research Abstract |
I carried the archaeological study on the process of the civilization from prehistory to the birth of early states in the Mekhong basin and its neighboring regions in South Vietnam, Northeast Thailand, South Laos and Cambodia. Local unification occurred along the each river valley from the third century BC in the Mekhong delta and the Don Nai basin, South Vietnam. In Northeast Thailand, Heger 1 bronze drums were distributed along the main rivers. It is very important that the junctions and the valleys of Mekhong, Mun, Chi and Songkram Rivers played strategic roles for the river transportation between the Mekhong and its tributaries, and the transportation to connect between the inland of the Khorat Plateau and the Mekhong. Champassac, South Laos was also important for the river traffic and transportation because it is located in the upper stream of the Khong Falls that cut the transportation. According to my research results, three important facts are notified. First, collection and export centers of the commodities such as iron, salt and forest products in the Khorat Plateau appeared along the Mekhong and its tributaries in the third century BC. Second, the chiefs of such centers as their regalia accepted Heger 1 bronze drums. Third, such centers that had economic and political powers were situated at strategic points along the rivers such as the junctions of rivers, islands in rivers and falls. Some centers developed to become early states after the first century AD.
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Research Products
(19 results)
