Berlin ¹⁴C Dates of Archaeological Sites in Vietnam

Abstract

In 1968, H. Quitta, J. Herrmann, G. Kohl and P. H. Thong initiated cooperation between the Archaeological Institute in Hanoi and the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory in Berlin. Since 1969, the Berlin 14C laboratory has measured 215 14C dates from 65 archaeological sites in Vietnam. As a result, important problems in Vietnamese archaeology have been recognized and partially solved with the aid of a secure chronological framework.

Hunter-Gatherer Mortuary Variability in Vietnam

“…BC based on an associated Antimelania shell (Nguyễn 2015). This date is consistent with a series of well-provenanced dates for the cave (Gorsdorf and Nguyễn 1995;Hoàng 1989).…”

“…It will also be observed (see Tables 10.1 and 10.2) that many dates are based on terrestrial and/or fresh water shell with an unknown reservoir effect. Gorsdorf and Nguyễn (1995) have argued that the reservoir effect may be as large as 800 ± 300 years for such material in northern Vietnamese caves. We have not factored in otherwise unknown reservoir effects in our calibrations.…”

Canariumin the Southeast Asian and Oceanic archaeobotanical and pollen records

“…If it were not for the fact that Canarium littorale, which the pollen type most resembles, can grow at altitudes up to 2000 m, this taxon would be an important warm indicator. Its almost continuous curve from the opening of the Holocene suggests that it is normally a warm indicator, as it is in Vietnam (Gorsdorf & Viet 1995). It also seems to like wet conditions; that, as much as temperature, may explain its general absence in full glacial times.…”