Nguyễn Anh Thư

Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using
the socio-archaeological and techno-archaeological approaches1
Nguyen Anh Thu
Ph. D. Student, Vietnamese Institute of Archaeology, Vietnam

Abstract
The concept of Champa pottery used in this article refers to the objects made of clay, no glaze, firing rate below 1000°C,
which are found in archaeological sites distributed in the territory of Champa State - Central Vietnam (from Quang Binhprovince to Binh Thuan province) (see Map 1) during the period of the first ten centuries AD.
Based on the research results of pottery in the Champa archaeological sites, this article is going to focus on the following
issues:- Some notes of approaches technological and social archaeology in the research on pottery.
- Research on Champa pottery in the access of technological and social archaeology: results and concerns.
- Some research results of Champa pottery.
Content
During over a century of studying Champa culture, pottery is a new type of cellular material which has been intentionallystudied systematically in recent years. The results obtained from archaeological excavations in the Central of Vietnam havecontributed to identify the types, materials, manufacturing techniques, decorative art of Champa pottery in the different
stages. The resources of excavations have added and provided a scientific basis to review the collected Champa potteries
being stored at the museums. With the two above resources, the researchers were initially aware of Champa ceramics inmany areas, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the relics, cultural relics in the history of Champa.

1. Some notes of approaches technological andsocial archaeology in the research on pottery

as criteria to determine the level of standardization production... (Innocent Pikirayi 2007).
The studies of pottery are considered as the leading and

To traditional and modern archaeology, pottery is always

oriented ones in archeology. Besides the studies of morpho-

a source of primary research materials, the “lodestar” forlogical characteristics of pottery like what the archaeology

archaeologists to study a place or a culture. It is mined fromhas been interested in for many years, the studies fromthe technical perspective, the producing organization andthe mid-twentieth century until now have focused on the

consumption to chemical analysis to find the source ofmatters of economic exchange, producing techniques andproduction or exchange, and especially from the functional

places, ways of production organization and manufacturing

aspects of culture - economics – society of pottery (Barbara

process from raw material extraction to product distribu-

J. Mills 1989, Christopher Fung 2000). Ceramics is also used

tion, the effects of, cultural relationships and exchanges on

to determine the identity of a nation, a group of people, or

the production, the trade. The researchs on pottery also

1

The content of this article used the research results of the thesis “Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using the socio- archaeo-

logical and techno- archaeological approaches”. Sponsored by the Asian Research Centre, Hanoi National University, charged by Prof.Dr.
Lam My Dung. The report summary is being stored at Museum of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi

40

Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using thesocio-archaeological and techno-archaeological approaches

1. Quảng Trị province: Dương Lệ Đông;Cồn Chùa.
2. Thừa Thiên - Huế province: Thành
Hóa Châu.
3. Quảng Nam province: Trà Kiệu; GòCấm; Thửa Vườn – Đồng Dương; LăngBà; Thanh Quýt; Thanh Chiếm; BếnCồn Champa; Hậu Xá I – site; Đồng Nà;Trảng Sỏi; Khu vực I Cẩm Phô; Hồ ĐiềuHòa (Cầu pagoda – Hội An); Bãi Làng,Cù Lao Chàm.
4. Đà Nẵng city: Vườn Đình - Khuê Bắc(lớp văn hóa trên); Nam Thổ Sơn.
5. Quảng Ngãi province: Đồng Nghệ;Xóm Ốc (đảo Lý Sơn); Cổ Lũy - PhúThọ.
6. Phú Yên province: Thành Hồ
7. Khánh Hòa province: Hòa Diêm (lớpcư trú Champa sớm); Đồng Thành.

Map 1 Archaeological sites of the Champa culture in the Central of Vietnam were excavated, dating from the early of the first ten centuries AD

have contributed to understand about the economics - poli-ods, testing methods and experimental techniques.

tics of the early and developed states and the nations. That

Social Archaeology: Reconstructing the nature and social

is why the studies of technological and social archeology

organizations by applying the archaeology of settlement... is gradually being valued and appreciated in the study ofstructure, burial place, the distribution of warehouses, cas-ceramics.

tles ... to classify society. The document such as written, oral,

Archaeology of Technology: the study on technique has

linguistic, ethnic archaeological material ... are consideredgreat potential with rich data sources, including archaeo-

as the useful additional sources to help the archaeologists inlogical evidence and data analysis in the laboratory, the datainterpretation of the social stratification, state formation ...

collected from experimental and ethnographic materials(Lam Thi My Dung 2009).
Archaeology of technology in ceramics study: the studyof pottery from a technological perspective such as material

Belong to the field of social archaeological study, there areother sub- subjects such as archaeology of Burial and Death,Archaeology of Individual and Identity; Investigating Gender) ... (Lam Thi My Dung 2009).

composition, ceramic soil processing techniques, the ceram-

The purpose of social archaeology approaches in research

ic producing techniques by applying the natural scientificof pottery is to investigate the role and the function of pot-(such as methods of geochemistry, biochemistry, physics…),

teries in the life of people both in physical and mental as-

technical methods in combination with typological meth-pects. To some extent, this type of approach is also known
41

Nguyễn Anh Thư

as Ceramic Sociology - potteries can be used in studying

three Sa Huynh pottery samples (including a pottery coffin

the social boundaries and changes in social organizations

jar and two grave potteries) showed that the three samples

as well as explain the living ways of communities. Although

are all pottery minerals (high quartz content accounted

the sociological approach of pottery is pretty limited such as

for 80% - 95%) which proved not to be the selected pot-

the lack of solid theoretical basis, more vague concepts andter’s natural resources, maybe the soil making potteries waslimited internal functions but it has been applied in manytaken from pottery sediments on the terrace surface of thestudies of pottery, especially in the studies containing theriver. All the three samples have poor pottery agglomera-

combination and comparison between the archaeologicaltion, probably due to two following reasons: not high firing

material and the ethnographic record (William A. Longacretemperature or not good material sources, and many impu-

and Miriam Stark 1992).

rities. When petrographic observations of the three pottery
samples were done, a pottery quartz surface phenomena

2. Research on Champa pottery in the accessof technological and social archaeology: results and concerns.

was found, even in rocks with cracks of the samples, it was
showed that the three samples were heated at quite hightemperature (over 8000C) or the incubated firing time prolonged. Thus, the poor agglomeration ability in pottery is

The result of applying the methods of technological archae-

caused by the not good ingredients, not selected and filteredology in the study of Sa Huynh - Champa potteries has

to remove impurities of soil materials, very high proportion

actively supported in finding out the exploitation of raw

of sand in pottery materials to the phenomenon of “empty

materials and producing techniques of Sa Huynh - Champa

fabric/body”2 of the Sa Huynh ceramic samples (Nguyen

ceramics in order to consider the inheritance or cultural

Anh Thu, Tran Thi Sau 2011b). This is also a common phe-change between the two periods. Since pottery materials arenomenon, which can be easily seen with the naked eyes inmainly clay containing different chemical elements depend-

the Sa Huynh potteries. Therefore, the convenience of ex-

ing on the location and exploitation resources, based on

ploitation of raw materials for ceramics was considered thethis, the analysis results of the material components of themost important factor by Sa Huynh residents, they exploited

potteries in the archaeological relics when studied, com-

raw materials near their area of residence​​(the source of

pared with the clay in the same distribution area will help

clay formed from alluvial river, exploited on the surface ofverify the origin of pottery as produced by materials ex-

the ancient river terrace), the filter washing techniques andploited locally or taken from other places or the product ofremoval of impurities in the clay pottery material were notexchange and trade, contributing to learn about exploiting

paid attention to.

and handling materials; producing and firing techniques...

However, they mastered the nature of the alluvial river

We have chosen the analysis of mineral composition andsoil, they cleverly offset the loose characteristic of pottery

calcining temperature by the Ronnghen diffraction methodwith solid, hard and thick layers of slip by firing method andand petrographic microscope some samples of Sa Huynh,

control of temperature.

Champa potteries and material clay in the Thu Bon River

It were the high pottery firing temperature (over 8000C)

Basin (this area has concentrated density distribution of Sa

and the same hardness in the pottery inner and outer slips

Huynh cultural vestiges and Champa) to find out the origin

which led to the assumption that when the large potteryof materials, initially compare the material handling andcoffin jars were fired, Sa Huynh residents could have given

technical level of producing potteries between residents ofwood and straw inside the smoldering artifacts for several

Sa Huynh and Champa culture.

hours3, rather than the conventional pottery firing in the

The analysis results of the mineral composition of thepast and nowadays (Lam My Dung, Nguyen Hong Kien,

2

Term “pottery with empty fabric/body” has been using to refer one type of pottery well known in Sa Huynh culture. Due the large amountof sand in clay composition, the paste of pottery is loose, on many potsherds found in archaeological excavations we have recognized only
the inner and outer slips, the fabric (body) located between the slips was fallen.

42Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using thesocio-archaeological and techno-archaeological approaches
Hoang Thuy Quynh 2011).

supported to explaining the problems of mining and pro-

The analysis results of Champa pottery sample and mate-cessing raw materials and evaluation the level of ceramic

rial clay showed that the choice of clay resources and it’s

producing techniques, then understanding the inheritance

exploitation to make pottery was different from the previ-

or cultural changes between the two cultural periods Sa

ous (Sa Huynh) period. The analysis results of mineral

Huynh - Champa.

components of the four material clay samples in the Thu

The results of comparing the pottery types of the two

Bon River Basin (2 samples in the area of Dien Ban District,phases Sa Huynh and Champa cultures also showed the fol-

Quang Nam, a sample at Tra Kieu area (Duy Xuyen, Quang

lowing notes:

Nam), a sample at the site of Ruong Dong Cao (Hoi An))

- Regarding location of distribution: Basically, there wasand 15 Champa pottery samples showed the similarities ina fit in the area of ​​the two cultures and this was the basis

the mineral composition between the material clay sample

for the two-phase potteries were made from the common

and the pottery one in the archaeological sites in the same

sources of raw materials - clay formed by river sediments

area, they derived from river sediments which showed theand additives were plant residues and coarse or fine sand.

Champa potters had exploited and made use of the available- Regarding material: Sa Huynh potteries had only theclay in the ancient alluvial terrace along the Thu Bon River,coarse pottery; Cham potteries had at least two pottery

most concentrated in Dien Ban District, Quang Nam andtypes of coarse and fine.

Hoi An region. The clay sources were mined from a depth- Regarding the nature of cultures: Sa Huynh pottery as-of 1m-3m, so the quality was quite good. Observed withsemblge mainly derived from the burial sites (related to thethe naked eyes, it was clear that Champa ceramics has quite

dead people and death), until now, the pottery from habita-

solid bone, smoother than Sa Huynh ceramics. The analysis

tion sites has only found in an area of Thon Tu. Champa

results of the firing temperature showed that the ceramic

potteries yielded from a variety of sites mainly related toChampa samples were burnt under not high temperature

activities of living communities such as settlements, cities…

00(about 500 -700 C), the heated incubation period might be
prolonged.

The similarities in the pottery collections of the two
cultures lay mainly in some types of cooking pottery and

The propotion of the remaining mineral composition inpottery raw materials, slightly raw such as steam boiler ofthe 15 pottery Champa samples was accounted for just overmedium and small size, some meniscus bowls and bowls or

50%, suggesting that some substances which are not stablecups with a high empty slightly flared feet. The inheritanceto heat were lost during heating, proved that the Champa

from Sa Huynh pottery culture also appeared in the treat-potters added to the pottery clay material a certain amountment of the pottery surface, some types of special decorativeof non plastic substances (Nguyen Anh Thu Tran Thi Sau

water waves, pottery processing techniques, firing tech-2011a). Thus, during the Champa culture period, the im-niques in open kilns.

provement was not just a matter of better exploitation andIf the similarity and the difference level between the twomaterial handling, the clay material was washed and filteredcollections of pottery being compared, it is easy to recognize

to remove impurities, mixed some other additives to makehow much the difference is bigger than the degree of simi-

the Champa potteries have higher quality, fine texture, col-larity. This can be explained by the following reasons:orful, easy to shape with higher pragmatism because of not- The similarity of (mostly) cooking pottery and somevery high firing temperature, no heating in the complicatedother common daily - used things of the raw, slightly raw

specialized kiln and less fuel.

ceramics (by the comparison between the type of cooking

Thus, the results of the technical studies have effectively

pottery and the daily - used in some areas of Champa with3

In some Sa Huynh culture cemeteries such as An Bang, Hoi An, Lai Nghi, Dien Ban ... , there were some intact rims of burning charcoal

inside and outside the bottom of the jar. In the past, we usually associated this phenomenon with the grave heating custom. However, thiscan be interpreted in a different way. It is possible that the Sa Huynh prepared their grave in advance by heating the jar right at the tombe
pit in sand dunes, each jar itself is used as the kiln).
43

Nguyễn Anh Thư

the residence pottery of Sa Huynh in Thon Tu site) suggeststhat both Sa Huynh and Champa communities have thesame characteristics of the living environment and living
space, earning way, life organization, life style, behaviours
with the natural environment.
- The similarity in the types of coarce and slightly coarse
pottery also shows the long tradition of conservation of thepottery known as the folk or indigenous, which has small
production extent but densely distributed area, simple products with high economic efficiency and accessibility.
- First and foremost, the difference stems from changes in

Figure 1 Group 1 : Coarse pottery – cooking and storage.

social structure, from the form of chiefdoms into the states.
- The changes in the spiritual life, burial rites and receiving the new religions and beliefs.
- The changes in intensity and exposure trends and receiving exogenous cultural factors ...
Therefore, Champa

pottery has the complex origin.

Along with the self in the process of development, this lineof potteries was ever under the influence of the previous
one and absorbed the elements from the other ceramic lines
in the areas. The ceramic materials also contributed to ourknowledge about Champa culture, this is an open, selfdeveloped and integrated culture to develop throughout thelength of history.

3. Some research results of Champa pottery in
the first ten centuries AD

Figure 2 Group 2 : Fine, locally making under influence ofChina, India

3.1. Types of Champa pottery in the first ten centuries AD
Along with other features such as sorting, mining, clay material handling, forming and decoration techniques, Champa pottery types provide valuable information to study theissues of society, economy... of Champa state in history.
Especially, the issues of interaction with the natural environment, mining, water use, food storage, food preparing,family activities, community activities, rituals, rites... will beclarified by the researchs on pottery.
Champa pottery in the first ten centuries AD is divided
into three main groups:- Group 1: Native/Local pottery.
- Group 2: Pottery produced locally but under the impact
or influence of exogenous cultural factors from China, India.
- Group 3: Pottery imported from outside world such as
44

Figure 3 Group 3 : Imported pottery

Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using thesocio-archaeological and techno-archaeological approaches

Figure 4 Champa potterie of Early period (1st – 3nd AD)

Northern Vietnam, China. India, Middle East and so on

perspective of form, material, shaping techniques, calcining(Lam My Dung 2005) (Fig. 1, 2, 3).

temperature... and reflected the technical matters of produc-

Subjects of this article belong to the first and second
group, including: Pottery with specific functions (egg-tion, distribution, using scope as well as the relationshipbetween human – nature; human - society ...

shaped jar, tiles produced by using the mould with cloth

The early stages of Champa culture had many dishes,

imprint…); Dailylife (cooking, storaging and tablewares);especially the intermediate form between plates and bowls,

Ritual pottery (pot, jars, (garlic-shaped jars, kendi), bowls,

small and medium-sized, plate lights, stove, high- based

curved bowls, plates, plate-style lights, cups, high footring

glass (thick foot, as little hollow legs as of the Sa Huynh cul-cups, decorative and architectural pottery (decorative ele-ture before), pots with expanding bodies and flanged pots

ments, end-tiles, tiles, bricks… ) (Fig. 4, 5).

have the similar number. There was a decline in diversity in

Pottery yielded from Champa archaeological sites inthe type of pot compared to the Sa Huynh period, there was

the first ten centuries AD was various and abundant in thehardly any flowery decorative art and only the technical one
45

Nguyễn Anh Thư

Figure 5 Champa potterie of latter period (after 3nd AD)

left, however, there was still a treatment of surface pottery

East Han, Indian potteries imported from outside .

by lead-based painting in the red background and raw bone

The middle and developed period of Champa culture

potteries mixed with sand. The presence of the certain types

presented the continuation in producing and using of ce-of architectural and ritual pottery such as garlic–shaped jar,ramics and the appearance of a series of new elements in theovate jar, fabric- imprinted tiles on the timber architecture

aspects of techniques, the producing organization and prod-

were very outstanding ... In addition to the native pottery,ucts. The demands of social organization for the state andthere were written potteries imprinted with geometry of

the enhancement the role of religion ... led to the formation46

Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using thesocio-archaeological and techno-archaeological approachesof the concentration of pottery production, the new type of
dedicated pottery beside the imported one and locally produced pottery simulated imported one .

Potteries is useful on both following aspects:
i. Dating “Direct fossil” andii. As the evidence of the phenomenon and the exchange

3.2. Champa pottery processing techniques

process and crafted producing specialization.

The raw materials for Champa pottery production was red

The appearance of many diverse types of pottery, theclay, this resource was exploited at the place where pottery

presence at many places in different areas reflected the moreproduced. Therefore, Champa potteries before the tenthdemands for using pottery in Champa community. The

century was the red or slight yellow calcined pottery withnumber of found pottery proved that Champa potteries was

the two main types of coarse pottery and fine ceramics. Ce-likely produced in households at the first stage, afterwards,

ramic bone was usually mixed with sand or plant residues.

due to the appearance of demands for using pottery, there

Pottery was crafted by kneading technique and using

appeared the large producing zones in the delta areas ofturntables. The kneading technique is commonly found

Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen provinces, along theon the coarse pottery, crafted large sized artifacts. Pottery

major rivers such as the Thu Bon; Tra Khuc; Da Rang…

bone is often an uneven thickness. This kneading technique

to meet the needs of building the political, economic andshowed that the filtered preliminary processing of raw ma-

cultural centre of each region. The huge number of pottery

terials was not good, the pottery bone contained of plantreflected the outbreak of the Champa residents, the increas-

residues with big sand. The turntable technique was widelying demand for using and the development in economic andused to process the fairly sophisticated objects with valuable

social life, formed the centre of pottery production not only

art, the pottery bones were thick and even. This technique

to meet the demand for using, but also the religious needs.

was used when the preliminary processing of raw materials

This were the solid basic premises for the Champa potteries

was quite mature, the material was thoroughly filtered incu-

to have the outstanding development afterwards in order tobated and soaked, additives were completely mixed, mainlycompete with the other pottery line in the area in the same

sand was small, so pottery bone was fine. Some decorative

time.

potteries, religious objects had the imprinted technique.
From the analysis of the temperature of some pottery
samples, it can be seen that most potteries had been heated

The particularly important concern is the relationship between craft specialization and social and political development.

with an outdoor firing techniques, therefore, the tempera-

The landmark change in pottery manipulation from theture was not high, potteries was unstable, The calcined

first and the second centuries BC were the introduction oftemperature was usually under the 800°C. The heating fuels

the tile processing technique and then the bricks from thewere almost soft vegetation, which provided low heat, thus,

north (East Han), along with the type of soft smooth andthe potteries was unevenly fired, their color was heterog-

hard clay material, in which the used clay material had been

enous on the same kind. Although the calcining method offiltered thoroughly. Pottery types had a remarkable change,some end-tiles, tiles and architectural decoration had notfrom the main type of tomb pottery at the stage of Sa Huynh

high firing temperature, the surface was evenly colourful

to the household, architectural and religious potteries, all ofand similar to the products in some kilns in the North ofthem met many different needs of the individual and com-Vietnam at the same time, according to the sample analysis

munity life. However, although the pottery handicraft in

results, the production from local-exploited material has

the Central of Vietnam was received new techniques at thisstill been unknown to researchers.

stage (directly from China or through the North of Vietnam), the porcelain and glazed potteries hardly developed

4. Some economic - social issues of Champa king-due to the meet of internal developing demand. Champa

dom in the first ten centuries AD through thepottery types also had the obvious local features, somestudy of potteries

inherited from the Sa Huynh culture period, some arisingfrom the new demands. There was hardly any typical type47

Nguyễn Anh Thưof Han pottery like in the North of Vietnam except for somemanufacture of pottery, especially some types of architec-

lake-shaped jars and geometric-imprinted bottles.

tural materials and decorations used in the religious andIf the pottery consortium BC in the Central and in theritual works. The objects of this type such as tube end-tile,

North of Vietnam are put together, we can see the less simi-

decoratives on the end-tile with some type of standard, werelarities than the differences between them, although we canfound in widely separated locations (Tra Kieu - Quang Nam

not exclude the exchange and the trade between the two

province; Co Luy - Quang Ngai province; Thanh Ho - Phu

regions. Thus, it can be said that most of the pottery foundYen province) but they still share common characteristics ofin sites was made at place by exploiting local materials.

manufacturing techniques, patterns, designs.

Champa pottery products varied with many types and

The popularity and level of compatibility in the types ofsizes to serve different purposes and needs in life. The pot-

both the coarse and fine clay pottery in the widely- separat-

tery decorative products have been produced with various

ed locations in Champa culture showed the fact that in ad-

shapes to be suitable for the architecture in each period. If

dion to the household or small-extented production, there

the architectural potteries in the previous stage appeared thewere surely the concentrated production centres served thepottery cylinders, the one in the following period saw theneeds of building public works especially since the thirdappearance of corner-dotted decorations. If the decorative

century AD, those producing places were mostly managed

potteries in the previous stage stopped at terracotta material,

and run by government agencies in each region.

small size, the next period of architectural potteries was im-

The Han sharp coins were found with the first group inproved in size, calcined long and hard by the kiln techniques

the lower layer of Tra Kieu, Go Cam, Hau Xa – I, Dong Na,

and the use of glaze was a turning point in technique. The

Xom Oc sites. Obviously, the Han cultural interaction andcivil pottery was diverse in types and sizes, and had spe-

influence in the Central took place at the very early stage,

cial progress in the process of development. The shapes ofmainly in terms of trade, exchange and the directly influ-

Champa potteries were quite stable in the process of devel-

enced not only on the economic but also political and ideo-

opment, the main type of bottle was egg shell-shaped withlogical aspects . At Go Cam site, there found some ceramic

two elongated points. The shape of the sharp- bottomed jars

objects and terracotta such as “phong nê” considered exotic

in the third to fourth century and the vases of the thirteenth

but well- characterized of Han (Ian Glover, Nguyen Kim

to fourteenth century was slim and elegant. The Kendis kept

Dung and Ruth Prior 2001) In addition to this type , there

their shapes from the appearance until the mass production.

also found some ceramics or half-China items of East Han

Bowls and plates were mostly low – shaped, low base. There-– Six Dynasties scattered in several places as Hau Xa I, Trafore, it is very hard to distinguish the shallow-heart bowls

Kieu, Go Cam sites...

and deep-heart plates when classifying them. The cup-

The group of half-china and Chinese porcelain found in

shaped pottery remained their shapes from the appearance

the Champa cultural port town sites was mainly the porce-and It can be seen that the progress of the Champa potterieslain ceramic group of the Sui – Tang - Song dynasties. This

along time was the technical development: kilns, process-group was found in most sites surveyed from Quang Tri to

ing techniques, glaze , shapes changed slowly. Perhaps those

Quang Nam provinces. In the excavated pits in the sites dat-shapes matched the living conditions, living environment

ing from the seventh century onwards, the largest collection

for the Champa potters to use and maintain in a long-term

was in Bai Lang and Nam Tho Son.

. Until now, the Champa pottery production areas in Ninh
Thuan province have maintained the basic shapes in the history of potteries.

Until now, there was only a piece of pottery identified
originating directly at Tra Kieu from India. That was a small

In Champa potteries, from early to late, we can see thepiece of Rulette ware and similar to the type found in Ari-

evolution of types in different places in the tendency of

kamedu and some other areas in Eastern India, by the quan-simplifing the design, monotony (possibly in the standard

titative analysis, it was also showed that its ceramic bonemeaning) of types. So there may have existed a degreecomponents were the same as those in Arikamedu, datedof certain specialization, producing concentration in thefrom the mid third century BC to first century AD ( Trinh48

Research on Champa pottery in ten centuries AD using thesocio-archaeological and techno-archaeological approaches
Sinh and nnk 1993)

craft industries, especially the pottery.

The South Indian trade pottery shards were found in Go

Based on the evolution of pottery, the process of cultural

Cam site as well. These shards of gray, smooth, trimmed

evolution from the first century to the seventh and eighthin two rows of fine dots were the characteristics of Indo-

centuries in the Central of Vietnam could be mapped as fol-

Roman Greyish Ware pottery, maybe originated from Ari-lows:

kamedu (South India) (Nguyen Kim Dung 2005).
However, these pottery shards from the South were only
found in some early places and very few in quantity com-

The early period - from the mid-and late first century AD
to the late third century AD and can be classified into twoclassespared with the potteries originated from the North. Notice-a. The earliest class with egg-shaped jars and fabric-

ably, the Indian pottery was found only in the cultural layer

imprinted tiles. Coarse pottery had a number of inherited

dating from the mid first century AD to the early second

factors from the Sa Huynh culture. In the ceramic produc-

century AD. In the later cultural layers, the kendi types andtion there were technical factors from outside, especially thethe jars with hoses were very popular and considered theDong Han pottery. Tile-roof architectural wood. This classprototype from India with fine clay materials produced on

was found at some following locations:site.
Thus, the increase in foreign trade may be considereda driving force behind producing specialization and viceversa. The two-way relationship can be seen in the study ofi. Da Nang city- at the location of Vuon Dinh – Khue Bac;
ii. Quang Nam – Go Cam and Tra Kieu;
iii. Quang Ngai - Ly Son Island. This earliest class lay fromthe first century to the mid-second century AD.

foreign technology and the imitation of types, the increaseb. The next class lay from the second century to the end

in the level of standardization and the centralization ofof the third century AD. Basically, it inherited the cultural

production. The psychology and trust of preferring foreign

factors of the earliest, but the egg-shaped jars and the fabric-

goods stimulated the local production of similar goods.

imprinted tiles gradually disappeared. Coarse and fine pot-

In the current situation of documen, there is almost no
in-depth study on the determination of the producing tech-teries were parallel to each functional type, the smooth potteries increased in the number and type.

niques, the different types of ceramic shaping techniques,

The relics of the early period reflected the rapid andthe division of labor, the gender of the potters and the work-strong intensity of the exposure and exchange of politics,

ing time, the producing organization and distribution of theeconomy and culture with the outside world, especially withChampa residents in the first ten centuries AD ... therefore,

China and as the result, the inner transformation took place.

in the future, the application of some archaeological inter-

The late Period - From the fourth century to the nineth

disciplinary methods (sociological surveys, ethnography,

and tenth century and onwards. The architecture of rolling

technology ...) should be paid more attention to clarify thoseroof tile, bricks. End-tiles, especially clown-faced pipe tiles

above issues.

which are similar to those in Nanjing relics (China) datingfrom the early Six Dynasties were very popular in many

CONCLUSION

relics from Quang Nam to Phu Yen provinces, followed by
the tiles decorated with lotus, clouds. There appeared details

There were huge fluctuations across the whole Southeast

and architectural decoratives such as add-shaped decora-

Asia during the first ten centuries AD, Champa is not be-tion, nail pottery....., and artifacts related to religion (Bud-yond the context. Right from the first centuries of forma-dhism) such as the rectanglar objects (Buddhist pieces),tion, Champa had taken the advantage of its favorable con-pyramid ... Coarse pottery inherited the potteries tradition

ditions to establish relations not only with China but alsoof the early period and fine potteries particularly developedwith many other contemporary countries in the region such

. In addition to the native pottery, there were Sui - Tangas Funan, Chenla and the island nations. These features of(China) and Islam (Middle East) potteries... Pottery as wellculture and history of the Champa kingdom had a direct

as many other artifacts must meet the new needs of social

impact on the formation and transformation of the handi-

relations, social structures and their material and spiritual49

Nguyễn Anh Thưhọc Việt Nam”. Social Sciences Publishing House,

life.
The agreement in the standards of types and processing

pp. 635-652.

techniques of building and architectural materials, such as

Lâm Mỹ Dung, 2005. Pottery in Champa archaeologicalpipe tiles, bricks, tiles in the late period (since the fourthsites in Central Vietnam. Journal of Archaeology,

century) reflected the relative consistency between the eco-

No , pp. 50-70.

nomic - political centres of the polities of the early state and

Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung, 2009. “Sử dụng phương pháp và lý

the developed state formed and developed since the firstthuyết của Khảo cổ học Hiện đại trong nghiên

century AD onwards.

cứu khảo cổ học Việt Nam: Vấn đề và Triển vọng”.

The production and distribution of pottery (different

Paper presented at the “Phương pháp liên ngànhtypes) played an important role in the history of Champa

trong nghiên cứu khoa học XH & NV”, Trường

politics and economy. Compared with the previous period,ĐHKHXH & NV, Hà Nội(from the earliest to the tenth century), Champa pottery

Lâm Mỹ Dung, Nguyễn Hồng Kiên, Hoàng Thúy Quỳnh,developed remarkably, marking the advance in pottery pro-2011. “Mối quan hệ Sa Huỳnh – Champa nhìn từ

duction. That boom came up from the tradition of pottery

góc độ nghiên cứu đồ gốm”. Paper presented at the

production in the Sa Huynh culture and had the creative

New Archaeological Discoveies in 2011, Hà Nội.

features of continuous development of pottery production

M.Stark, 2000. Pre – Angkor Earthenware Ceramics fromin the process of history and contained the features received

Cambodia’s Mekong Delta. UDAYA: Journal of

from the outside pottery production centres. All integrated

Khmer Studies 1: 69-90.

to help Champa ceramics at this stage develop to a higherNguyễn Anh Thư, Trần Thị Sáu, 2011a. Results from thelevel, as high as the other centres of ceramic production

analysis of mineral components of some Champa

in the region. The pottery products were made not only toceramic samples found in Quang Nam. Journal ofmeet the domestic needs, but also to exchange with otherArchaeology, No 1, pp. 86-95.

countries in the region. The ceramic occupation became theNguyễn Anh Thư, Trần Thị Sáu, 2011b. Results from theeconomics which played an important role in the life of theanalysis of mineral components of some Sa Huynh

Cham people in history.

ceramic. Paper presented at the New Archaeological Discoveies in 2011, Hà Nội.

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