Bronze Age burial site discovered in Myanmar

Human remains found at a dig 2site in Gyogon village, Pyawbwe township, Mandalay Region last month [Credit: Myanmar Times]
Bronze Age burial site discovered in Myanmar
An archaeological dig in central Myanmar has uncovered a bounty of human remains, including at least 35 uncremated individuals thought to date from the Bronze or Iron Age, a spokesperson from the Department of Archeology, National Museum and Library said last week.
Excavation work began at the site, near Gyogon village in Mandalay Region’s Pyawbwe township, on November 2. The dig, led by the department’s assistant director for Mandalay, U Aung Aung Kyaw, also includes Dr Jean-Pierre Pautreau from the National Center for Scientific Research at Rennes University 1 in France.

Forty-six sets of remains have been found so far, with 35 confirmed as human, including six almost complete skeletons. Seven were found buried in pots, while three were in wooden coffins. One wore a bronze bracelet on the left forearm and a necklace decorated with eyeteeth. Another significant discovery was the remains of three individuals encased in lime.

The team also found a cache of 114 items, including eyeteeth, colourful beads of various sizes, small stones, bronze jewellery, iron-ware and a bottle-shaped item made of bone.

The remains were found in a 15-by-5 metre area on farmland owned by Gyogon resident U Aung Myaing.

U Kyaw Oo Lwin, director general of the Department of Archaeology, said the excavation aimed to unearth evidence of Bronze and Iron Age cultures in Myanmar.

He said the human remains and other items found so far would be valuable for better understanding the pre-Pyu history of the region.

“The excavation also aims to study Gyogon village … relative to other excavated sites in the country. We are now preparing to keep the unearthed items in the new National Museum, in Nay Pyi Taw,” he said.

Since 1998, the department has excavated 19 Bronze and Iron Age sites, he said.

Dr Bob Hudson, an honorary associate at the University of Sydney’s Archaeology Department, said that the majority of bronze objects found at excavation sites in Myanmar were no older than 2500 years.

“Most bronze [items] seems to come from after 500 BC (2500 years ago), when the growing economy meant people could afford to make and buy bronze objects,” he told The Myanmar Times last week.

However, excavations at Nyaunggan in Sagaing Region’s Budalin township had uncovered bronze axes that dated back about 3000 years. “We can call this the beginning of the Bronze Age. It is the period when bronze is first used in Myanmar.”

About 2500 years ago iron also appeared, mostly at cemeteries where people were buried with their possessions. Iron tools made agriculture more efficient and people became wealthier but it did not mean they stopped using bronze.

“‘Bronze Age’ and ‘Iron Age’ are expressions that describe points in history when these metals appear. In a way, these ages did not really end – we still use bronze and iron today,” said Dr Hudson, who is also a visiting professor at the Field School of Archaeology in Pyay, Bago Region.

Rather, the period from 3000 to 2500 years ago is referred to as the Bronze Age because bronze was the only metal known. The period from 500BC to about 200AD, when Pyu cities appear, is referred to as the Iron Age.

“Around 1800 years ago, we know that the Pyu cities of Hanlin, Beikthano and Sriksetra were already functioning, with brick walls, gates and religious buildings,” he said.

This ushered in what is known as the “early urban period”.

“These people already had bronze and iron, and as they learned more about metal technology, using furnaces, they also got better at working gemstones and other metals such as gold, silver and lead.”
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