TTLV: Types of burials in excavations at the Sepon mine (Lao PDR) from 2008-2019

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name: Daovee SIHANAM.2. Gender:Male

3. Date of birth: 10 /03 /1985   

4. Place of birth:Vientiane Province, Democratic Republic of Laos

5. Decision to recognize student number:2964/QD-XHN, dated December 29, 2021 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in the training process:Are not

7. Thesis topic name:“Tomb types in excavations at Sepon mine (Lao PDR) from 2008-2019”

8. Major: Archaeology;Code: 8229010.01.

9. Scientific guidance officer: Prof. Dr. Lam Thi My Dung and Dr. Nguyen Huu Manh. Both work at the Department of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of thesis results:

The thesis focuses on studying the types of burials discovered during archaeological excavations at the Sepon copper-gold mine, Lao People's Democratic Republic, during the period from 2008 to 2019. The main results of the thesis include:

The study area is located in the Sepon copper-gold mine, Vilaybouly district, Savannakhet province, and extends to some villages in Sepon district (Savannakhet province) and Bua Lapha district (Khammauane province). The geographical location of the area is determined in the latitude range from 16°39'14" to 17°06'05" and longitude from 105°40'24" to 106°36'20". The burial relics are scattered in this area, closely associated with the living and activities of ancient residents here, especially metal mining and processing activities.

Based on the results of excavation and research, the existence of three main types of burials at the Sepon copper-gold mine has been recorded: jar burials, ceramic tombs and earthen tombs. Among these, earthen tombs show the highest frequency of appearance, reflecting the common burial practices of the ancient community in Sepon during different historical periods. Analysis of the structural characteristics, burial customs and burial relics of each type of tomb has provided insight into their spiritual life and social organization.

Research on the types of burials and burial objects at Sepon shows remarkable similarities with the relics of Dong Son Culture in Vietnam and other prehistoric cultures in mainland Southeast Asia. This suggests relationships, cultural exchanges and possibly population movements in the past. The discoveries of burials contribute to clarifying the cultural history, living habits, beliefs and community relations of ancient residents in the Sepon mine area.

11. Practical application: 

With the research topic of "Types of burial in excavations at Sepon mine (Lao PDR) from 2008-2019", the results of the thesis are expected to make practical contributions to many aspects:

- Providing important archaeological resources, enriching understanding of the cultural history and burial customs of ancient residents in Laos, especially in the Central region with many metal relics.

- Contribute to clarifying the social organization, spiritual life and cultural relations of the community of residents who once lived and worked at the Sepon copper-gold mine in the past.

- Providing scientific data to serve the management, conservation and promotion of archaeological heritage values ​​in the Sepon mine area, especially important in the context of ongoing industrial activities.

- Can be used as a basis for building educational programs, displaying at museums or developing local community cultural tourism, helping the public understand more about the glorious past of this land.

12. Further research directions: 

Although the thesis has achieved certain results, there is still much potential for more in-depth research in the future. Some research directions that can be considered include:

- More in-depth analysis of burial relics by type of tomb and period to better understand socio-economic development and differentiation within the community.

- Applying modern scientific methods such as ancient DNA analysis (aDNA) or strontium isotope analysis on human remains to determine the origin, diet and movement of residents.

- Conduct more detailed comparative studies with burial sites of the same period in Laos and neighboring countries to further clarify the relationship and cultural influence in the region.

- Expand the scope of research to other types of relics from the same period in the Sepon area (if any) to have a more comprehensive view of the lives of ancient residents.

13. Published works related to the thesis:Do not have

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's Full Name:Daovee SIHANAM

2. Gender:Male

3. Date of Birth:March 10, 1985

4. Place of Birth:Vientiane Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic

5. Decision on Student Recognition:Decision No. 2964/QD-XHN, dated December 29, 2021, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes During the Training Process:None

7. Thesis Title:"Types of Burials in Excavations at the Sepon Mine Site (Lao People's Democratic Republic) from 2008 to 2019"

8. Specialization:Archaeology; Code: 8229010.01

9. Scientific Supervisors:Prof. Dr. Lam Thi My Dung and Dr. Nguyen Huu Manh, both from the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of Thesis Results:The thesis focuses on studying the types of burials discovered during archaeological excavations at the Sepon copper-gold mine site in the Lao People's Democratic Republic from 2008 to 2019. The main results of the thesis include:

- The research area is located within the Sepon copper-gold mine, in Vilaybouly District, Savannakhet Province, and extends to several villages in Sepon District (Savannakhet Province) and Bua Lapha District (Khammouane Province). The geographical coordinates of the area range from 16°39'14" to 17°06'05" latitude and 105°40'24" to 106°36'20" longitude. Burial sites are scattered throughout this area, associated with the living and activities of ancient inhabitants, particularly metal mining and crafting.

- Based on excavation and research results, three main types of burials were identified at the Sepon copper-gold mine: jar burials, ceramic burials, and earthen burials. Among these, earthen burials were the most frequently encountered, reflecting the common burial practices of the ancient Sepon community during different historical periods. Analyzing the structural characteristics, burial customs, and accompanying grave goods of each burial type provides deep insights into their spiritual life and social organization.

- The study of burial types and grave goods at Sepon reveals notable similarities with sites belonging to the Dong Son Culture in Vietnam and other prehistoric cultures in mainland Southeast Asia. This suggests cultural interactions, exchanges, and possibly even population movements in the past. The findings on burials contribute to clarifying the cultural history, living customs, beliefs, and communal relationships of ancient inhabitants in the Sepon mine area.

11.Practical Applications:With the research topic "Types of Burials in Excavations at the Sepon Mine Site (Lao People's Democratic Republic) from 2008 to 2019," the thesis results are expected to make practical contributions in various aspects:

- Providing important archaeological materials, enriching the understanding of cultural history and burial practices of ancient inhabitants in Laos, particularly in the central region with numerous metal-related sites.

- Clarifying the social organization, spiritual life, and cultural relationships of the that once lived and worked at the Sepon copper-gold mine in the past.

- Providing scientific data for the management, preservation, and promotion of the archaeological heritage at the Sepon mine area, especially crucial amid ongoing industrial activities.

- Serving as a basis for developing educational programs, museum exhibitions, or community cultural tourism at the local level, helping the public learn more about the glorious past of this region.

12. Future Research Directions:

Although the thesis has achieved certain results, there remains potential for more in-depth research in the future. Some possible research directions include:

- Conducting deeper analyzes of grave goods by burial type and period to better understand the economic-social development and stratification within the community.

- Applying modern scientific methods such as ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis or strontium isotope analysis on human remains to determine the origins, diets, and migrations of the population.

- Performing more detailed comparative studies with contemporaneous burial sites in Laos and neighboring countries to further clarify cultural relationships and influences in the region.

- Expanding the research scope to include other types of sites from the same period in the Sepon area (if any) for a more comprehensive view of the ancient inhabitants' lives.

13.Published Works Related to the Thesis:None