Ancient jades map 3,000 years of prehistoric exchange in Southeast Asia

Abstract

We have used electron probe microanalysis to examine Southeast Asian nephrite (jade) artifacts, many archeologically excavated, dating from 3000 B.C. through the first millennium A.D. The research has revealed the existence of one of the most extensive sea-based trade networks of a single geological material in the prehistoric world. Green nephrite from a source in eastern Taiwan was used to make two very specific forms of ear pendant that were distributed, between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D., through the Philippines, East Malaysia, southern Vietnam, and peninsular Thailand, forming a 3,000-km-diameter halo around the southern and eastern coastlines of the South China Sea. Other Taiwan nephrite artifacts, especially beads and bracelets, were distributed earlier during Neolithic times throughout Taiwan and from Taiwan into the Philippines.Austronesian languages ͉ electron probe microanalysis ͉ nephrite trade ͉ Southeast Asian archaeology ͉ Taiwan

The Original Banana Split: Multi-disciplinary implications of the generation of African and Pacific Plantains in Island Southeast Asia

“…The great distance from mainland Southeast Asia to the Philippines poses the question of who undertook this voyage over such a long distance? There were certainly contacts across the Batanes Strait between southern Taiwan and northern Luzon at least 4000 years ago (Hung et al 2007, Piper et al 2009, with subsequent colonization of the Mariana Islands from the Philippines by c. 3500 years ago (e.g., Hung et al 2011). From c. 2500-1500 years ago, nephrite artifacts shed light on social connectivities around the South China Sea, embracing regions as distant as Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand (Hung et al 2007), with evidence for the spread of Dongson bronze artifacts from Vietnam as far as western New Guinea also likely to date to this time period (Wright et al 2013).…”

“…There were certainly contacts across the Batanes Strait between southern Taiwan and northern Luzon at least 4000 years ago (Hung et al 2007, Piper et al 2009, with subsequent colonization of the Mariana Islands from the Philippines by c. 3500 years ago (e.g., Hung et al 2011). From c. 2500-1500 years ago, nephrite artifacts shed light on social connectivities around the South China Sea, embracing regions as distant as Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand (Hung et al 2007), with evidence for the spread of Dongson bronze artifacts from Vietnam as far as western New Guinea also likely to date to this time period (Wright et al 2013). As yet, there is no definitive archaeological evidence for direct connections between mainland Southeast Asia and the Philippines before c. 2500 years ago (though see Bulbeck 2008 for possibilities), but there is some linguistic evidence in the form of banana terminologies for a connection ).…”

Enter the Ceramic Matrix: Identifying the Nature of the Early Austronesian Settlement in the Cagayan Valley, Philippines

“…This evidence suggests the establishment of continual trading connections and interactions between Taiwan and sedentary Iron Age groups in the Cagayan Valley. Connection and interaction are further supported by the theory of maritime trading networks during the Iron Age (Hung et al 2007). …”

The Sa Huynh Culture in Ancient Regional Trade Networks: A Comparative Study of Ornaments

“…The techniques being applied to sawing and cutting the ornament from the raw material appear to be exactly the same as the methods utilised for the same process at Giong Ca Vo, where a similar artefact in the early stages of manufacture was recovered (Nguyen K.D. 2007b;Bellina 2007;Bellina and Silapanth 2006). A bicephalous ear pendant has also been found at Ban Don Ta Phet in Kanchanaburi Province (Figure 18.3, Plate 1; Glover 1990).…”

“…Vu 1991;Glover 1996;Ha V.T. 1998;Bellina 2003;Yamagata 2006;Hung et al 2007;Lam 2008;Hung and Bellwood 2010), are the hundreds of burial sites containing thousands of inhumations within large jars excavated across central and Southern Vietnam (see Figure 18.1). In addition to the burials, these sites have also produced a wide variety of other material culture that includes objects related to daily life and ritual, including bronze and iron implements, pottery and ornaments of various types, either placed within the jars (with the body) or buried adjacent to them.…”