Bronze Age Context of HL 29 in Halin Pyu

Bronze Age Context of HL29 at Halin
Pyiet Phyo Kyaw∗
Abstract
As for the Bronze Age cultural sequence of Myanmar, no so many evidences were
abundantly evolved. Especially, those of Nyaunggan, of Samon Valley, and of
Halin could be the same for the Bronze Age context of Myanmar because of their
excavated Bronze implements and burial remains. Recently Halin was further
excavated and surveyed to have some traces of Bronze mingled with Lithic
Culture. In this study, HL 29 burial site was emphasized to represent how the
Bronze Age artifacts were advanced in Myanmar archaeological sequences in
comparison with former Bronze Age Sites; Nyaunggan and the vicinity of Samon
Valley.
Keywords: Bronze Age artifacts, burial site, Bronze Age Cultural Sequence.
Introduction
Halin was one of the Pyu Cities popularly among Myanmar and Southeast Asia
Regions. Halin has about 10 or 11 miles south-east of ShweBo in Upper Myanmar.
The urbanization of Pyu was usually based on the regions of Ayeyarwady River
Valley. Ayeyarwady River is one of the western rivers of Mainland Southeast Asia
regions and the others are Brahmaputtara River of Bangladesh and Chindwin River of
Myanmar. On the other hand, although Mu River is located between Chindwin and
Ayeyarwady Halin can be defined as Pyu city located between Chindwin and
Ayeyarwady Rivers but very near to Ayeyarwady. Likewise the early Bronze Age site
of Nyaunggan is located between these two rivers but very near to Chindwin. (Map-1)
Although Halin can be assumed that those of the Pyu remains because of the
former excavations, the prehistoric evidences of Neolithic and Bronze Age artifacts
were involved in and around the area of Halin Old City. For instance, to be proved
concerning the prehistoric context, there are some excavated sites such as HL22,
HL25 and HL26. These sites are obviously pointed that Halin was originated from
Neolithic Age to Protohistoric Period or Pyu time. In 1998-991, HL22 was excavated
and there are so many huge sand stones which were composed in three groups and
these can be associated with the Later Phase of Neolithic practice or Megalithic traces.
∗
Tutor, Department of Archaeology, University of Yangon
1
Report on the excavation of Halin in 2009-2010, Department of Archaeology, National Museum and
Library, Ministry of Culture, p-3
Journal of Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science, Vol. XI, No. 8, June 2011
2
In 2004-2005, HL25 and HL26 were excavated and unearthed some stone tools,
bronze implements and potteries together with the semi-fossilized skeletons. The
recent excavations of Halin could be evolved as the context of Later Neolithic and
Bronze and Iron Age evidences. Before these excavated findings, Halin was popular
as the Protohistoric sequences or Pyu Period. These sites was numbered as HL 28,
HL29 and HL30 and excavated during the seasons of 2008 to 2010.
In this study, HL29 was highlighted as the central observation based on the
artifacts of prehistoric remains especially for the context of Bronze Age Culture. So
many grave goods were richly yielded in the excavation of HL29 and this site can give
some traces of cultural mixture in Halin Ancient City. These excavated findings of
HL29 can also be helpful to fulfill in the sequence of Bronze Age Culture in
Myanmar.
Aim and Objective of This Study

To approach the Bronze Age context, the useful evidences are not only bronze
implements but also the typology of grave goods found associating with bronze
remains. For example, the samples of grave goods are beads, potteries, shells and
stone implements_ tools or rings. Therefore, this study will use these associated data
and information in the records and reports of excavated result; the publication
concerned with these Bronze Age sites; other foreign publication of the Bronze Age
Culture of Southeast Asia. But the entire parts of this study will mostly depend on the
material remains of bronze implements yielded from both of excavated results and
other chanced finds.
In this study, the main focus point is the grave goods of HL29 in comparison
with the bronze artifacts as those of Samon River valley regions and those of
Nyaunggan burial ground. From this comparative study, some information concerning
the Bronze Age cultural characteristics of Myanmar can be presented based on the
accurate material remains of bronze artifacts which were excavated or discovered.
The Sequence of Bronze Age Cultural Remains in Myanmar

Bronze Age Culture of Myanmar was not presented among the scholars until 1997s.
The 1998 excavation of Nyaunggan Burial sites could be declared that the Bronze Age
3
context of Myanmar was firstly discovered1 with some bronze artifacts of the
cemetery sites in the southwest of Nyaunggan village. According to the typology of
Nyaunggan bronze artifacts Nyaunggan burial site is from the Late Bronze Age.2 In
1998-1999, the next valuable discoveries were evolved as the context of Bronze Age
Culture based on the Samon River valley. These discoveries are as follows:
(1) 24 skeletons together with bronze and stone implements in Taungtha, Myin
Chan Township3
(2) 36 skeletons together with bronze and iron tools in Min Oo Hle, Mahlaing
Township4
Samon River is different that flowing toward north unlikely other popular
rivers in Myanmar. This river is originated very near to south-east of Yamethin and
flowing toward North; into the Myit Nge River the tributary of Ayeyarwaddy.
Afterward, in 2009-2010, the recent excavations of Halin Area was proceeded and
found as the abundance of bronze artifacts together with many grave goods; beads,
potteries, stone-rings and megalith practices. This Hl29 sites is one of the Bronze Age
cemetery sites among the Southeast Asia regions. The excavated finding of bronze
artifacts in HL29 was directly associated with both of Nyaunggan’s and Samon
valley’s bronze remains.
Archaeological Landscape of HL29

HL29 is situated outside the southern corner of Halin city wall. In detail, HL29 site
has 500 feet distance from the southwest of city wall and between N 22 27' 46" and E
95 48' 39".5 In the southern part of Halin city wall, the traces of prehistoric burial
grounds were found abundantly associated with bronze and iron artifacts such as
follows:
i. Iron age burial with skull intact gold teeth; silver and gold rings; iron
tools; skeletons under large stones during 20016
ii. Burial with beaten bronze rings and bracelets, painted pots during
20011
1
Jean-Pierre Pautreau; Ywa Htin Iron Age Burials in the Samon Valley, Upper Burma, Thailand, SIAM
RATANA LTD., 2007, p-11
2
Ibid, p-11
3
Ibid, p-11
4
Ibid, p-11
5
Library, Ministry of Culture, p-3
6
Bob Hudson; The Origins of Bagan The Archaeological Landscape of Upper Burma to AD 1300,
Ph D Thesis, Australia, University of Sydney, 2004, p-171
4
iii. The excavated findings of bronze and iron artifacts associated with Iron
Burial Sites such as HL25 and HL26 in 20052
Around the southern portion from Halin city wall, the prominent landscape of
topographic condition can be seen as follows:
i. The cluster of hot springs are existed in the vicinity of Ye-bu-gon
village
ii. The wide area of salt fields which can be produced the large amount of
quality salt
iii. The wide area ,as swamp, along the dry stream situated very close to
Htanaung-gon village
The area around the southern portion of Halin is obviously seen as the wetland
mingled with lime, sulfur, silica to be crystallized or fossilized as soon as possible. Its
environment is like hillock of sandy soil and, in its vicinity, salt fields can be
abundantly found. Moreover, the hot springs in which ingredient of the sulfur mostly
contained are in several numbers around the vicinity of Halin City. In this region one
kind of stone like laterite can be seen strangely. The rough and irregular surfaces of
these stones are composed with many small pebbles like spots. This kind of stone can
be found richly in and around HL25 and HL26.3
The recent excavated site named HL29 is also situated in this area the southern
corner of Halin city wall. HL29 is very close to the dry stream involved with the wide
area of swamp in the west of Htanaung-gon village. From the mound of this site, the
vision of dry stream and its swamp-land can be seen and HL29 was really situated on
the west bank of this dry stream current. HL29 is the ancient cemetery or burial
ground and might be those of prehistoric period. Even up to date, in this area, modern
cemetery is operated by the local peoples. So this area of the southern corner might be
assumed that solitary area for cemetery from prehistoric time to up to date. According
to the evidences of excavated and chanced finds, this southern portion a little far from
Halin city wall is abundantly found the burial ground yielded the remains of Stone,
Bronze and Iron implements.
1
Bob Hudson; The Origins of Bagan The Archaeological Landscape of Upper Burma to AD 1300,
Ph D Thesis, Australia, University of Sydney, 2004, p-171
2
Pyiet Phyo Kyaw; “The Skeletal Remains of Halin Excavated Sites, HL25 and HL26”, Yangon
University Research Journal, Vol. I, No.1, Dec, 2009, p-147-158
3
Ibid
5
Now the recent findings of HL29 is directly associated with the Bronze Age
contextual evidences because the bronze tools were excavated together with other
grave goods: stone rings, cowry or mollusc shells, stone beads, potteries.
Bronze Artifacts and Its Associations from the Excavation of HL29

North
0 peg
A B C D
1 Excavation Method_ Grid System
2 Grid Dimension _ 12’ x 12’
3 Width of Partition _ 3’
4 (See-Plate 1)
HL29 was excavated from May 16 to June 25 in 2009.1 According to the report of
HL29 excavation, there can be categorized the artifacts as follows:
i. 51∗ skeletons were unearthed with grave goods in rich.2
ii. 285 pieces of earthenware in the various types and painted wares3
iii. 8 bronze tools which are spear heads, axes, adzes and
1 bronze wristlet, 1 ring4
iv. 32 stone rings being wore in wrist of skeletons5
v. 30 stone beads without painted or etched designs6
vi. 14 mollusc shells close to the skeletons 7
vii. 37 blocks of sand stone being placed in series on the interment of
skeletons8
1
Oral fact from U Nyein Lwin, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, National Museum and
Library, Ministry of Culture (October 3, 2009)
∗
Only 22 skeletons were surveyed by author (October 3, 2009); the rest were reburied as its in situ,
,after taking the stone rings from these skeletons, by excavator
2
Report on the excavation of HL29, 30 in 2009-2010, Department of Archaeology, National Museum
and Library, Ministry of Culture, p-18
3
Ibid, p-18
4
Ibid, p-18
5
Ibid, p-19
6
Ibid, p-20
7
Ibid, p-20
8
Report of MOU, 2009-2010, p-21
6
viii. The large numbers of bone rings or ivory wristlets being wore of the
skeletons1
ix. Very tiny shells being used to ware as headdress or head ware2
In HL29, the mixture of cultural remains was prominent through its stratified
layers containing grave goods associated with skeletons. The six layers3 of
stratigraphic condition were classified and the lower layer is depth of 12'. The skeletal
remains were overlapped vertically. The bronze artifacts were firstly found arriving at
about 6' depth and continued to be excavated until the depth of 12'. All of bronze
artifacts were found only the deeper layers. Before arriving at the 6 feet depth level,
the uncovered skeletons were ridded to be excavated continually to reach the earliest
cultural stage. ∗
Information concerning the Excavating at HL29

and Assumption of the Repeated Cemetery
This cemetery site was supposed that the burial ground where was operated through
one more ages or cultural complexity. This cemetery ground might be ended or silent
after Pyu city state was disappeared. So this mound is the cemetery where the latest
Pyu peoples were buried and had the funeral ceremony in this mound.
Because of discarding the skeletons, which were found in the upper layers
until not to reach between 6 and 12' depth, the latest cultural context was lost and it
might be those of Halin Pyu stage or later stages. Moreover, the recording of
discarding procedures was not found in the excavator’s report. It can be seen whether
these discarded skeletons were associated some particular cultural sequences or not. It
is really losing the associated information concerning the later stage of HL29
excavating.
The stone rings attached with skeletons were uncovered arriving at the
uppermost layer 3' depth and indicate that the evidence of Stone Ring was parallel
with Bronze Age Culture. The stone rings, which may be associated with the Later
Neolithic Phase, were polished and symmetrical shape. Continuing to reach between
6' and 12', the bronze artifacts were firstly uncovered until down to the lowest level or
natural soil. But, the stone rings are excavated firstly more than bronzes in upper
1
Ibid, p-21
2
Surveying at Grid B3 of HL29 by author on October 3, 2009
3
Surveying at Grid B3 of HL29 by author on October 3, 2009
∗
Oral information from the conversation with a labour named Ko Zaw Win involved the team of
HL29 excavation
7
layers. In natural soil of bronze artifacts, no iron fragments or objects were found in
HL29.1 The type of large pot, which was excavated in HL25, 26 and 28 associated
with the Iron Age tools, was not found in HL29.2
But the bone or ivory bracelets were found intact with the both forearms of
skeleton and these findings of bone or ivory wares are the same to the findings of
Myo Hla and Htan Ta Pin containing bracelets made from bone.3 In Samon regions,
there are the sites which were found the bronze artifacts together with iron tools; these
sites which can be grouped on findings of iron objects are (7) sites as follow4:
1. Pinle in the Myittha Township
2. Pwe-Zon-Gon in the Wundwin Township
3. Kok-Ko-Gon in the Maik-Hti-La Township,
4. Bein-Da-Ka in the Pyawbwe Township
5. Myauk-Mi-Gon in Pyawbwe
6. Myo Hla in the Pyawbwe Township
7. Tha-Pan-Chaung in the Tatkon Township
The bone or ivory bracelets of HL29 are mostly associated with those of Myo
Hla, and so, HL29 might be one of the Bronze-Iron fusion sites only with the
evidences of these bone or ivory bracelets although any remains of iron artifacts were
not found in HL29. The characteristic of these bone or ivory bracelets, which were
found in both of HL29 and Myo Hla site, is mostly similar in the number of bracelets;
205-26 rings of bracelets in a skeleton.
The features of burial practice in HL29 were the same to those of burial sites
found in Samon region. But the distinctive evidences of HL29 site are association
with the mixture of cultural remains or cultural complexity. HL29 can be defined the
repeated cemetery because the excavated findings were contained the combination of
stone rings, bronze artifacts and other grave goods associated Pyu beads, Bronze Age
potteries.
1
2
Ibid, p-23
3
RATANA LTD., 2007, p-85-86
4
Win Maung (Tampawaddy); Sa-mon River Valley Civilization (Recent Information from Field
Exploration), Sweden, Gothenburg Conference, 2002, Appendix a, p-8
5
Jean-Pierre Pautreau; Ywa Htin Iron Age Burials in the Samon Valley, Upper Burma, 2007, P-85
8
Typological Study on the Bronze Age Tools and Its Associations at HL29
There are 8 bronze tools which could be excavated at HL29. In detail, each bronze
tool was recorded attached with its strata and grid number as follows:
i. Bronze spearhead found beside the right arm bone in Grid C1
ii. Bronze axe found beside the wrist bone with bone rings in Grid C1
iii. Bronze axe found beside the top of right thigh bone in Grid C2
iv. Bronze spearhead found beside the right tibia in Grid D2
v. Bronze spearhead found beside the right side of torso in Grid C3
vi. Bronze axe found beside the left tibia in Grid C3
vii. Bronze axe found beside the left thigh bone in Grid B3
viii. Bronze spearhead found beside the bone head of left tibia in Grid B3
The grids which bronze tools were found are B3, C1, C2, C3 and D2.∗ The findings of
bronze tools were (4) spear heads and (4) bronze axes.
In Grid C1, both of spearhead and axe was found associated with a skeleton.π
In Grid C2, only one bronze axe was found mingled with potsherds associating
the skeleton.
∗
These grids have many grave goods and bronze tools more than other grids. The condition of HL29
excavating has probably major finds in these grids according to the field note of author on 3 October
2009
π
These (two bronze tools) were discarded and removed to take out of this Grid as specimens for
observation in detail.
9
In Grid D2, spearhead was found associating the skeleton which covered with
big stones.
In Grid C3, both of spearhead and axe was found associated with skeleton and
stone beads.
10
In Grid B3, both of spearhead and axe was found associated with a skeleton,
stone beads and the distinctive headdress.
In each skeleton, as for the grave goods, there are mollusc shells, stone beads,
pottery and buried stones. In one skeleton of Grid B3, there is one headdress contained
the small shells which strung to be wore in head. In one skeleton of Grid C3, the use
of small shells was found as the shell beads located on the rib case.
11
The bronze axes can be measured commonly that the hold of axe is 10 cm and
the blade of axe is 14 cm long. Its shape is most likely to those of Nyaunggan type of
Bronze Axe.∗ This type of bronze axe was named to be called as “halberd tools”θ.
There are some sites which were unearthed this halberd type of bronze axe as follows:
i. Nyaunggan Burial Site, Bu Ta Lin Township, Monywa District
ii. Inn-De Site, Taung Tha Township, Myingyan District1
∗
this type of Bronze Age axe was named by U Nyunt Han as “a flared-axe” or “halberd type of
ceremonial bronze axe” and he also said that this type of axe has some resemblance with those of
ceremonial bronze axe from Java. (Nyunt Han; “Archaeological Findings at Nyaunggan Bronze Age
Site”, Proceedings of the Workshop on Bronze Age Culture in Myanmar, Yangon, UHRC press, p-34)
θ
an ax blade and pick with a spearhead on top, mounted on a long handle and used as a weapon in the
15th and 16th centuries (definition of Encarta Dictionaries 2009)
1
U San Win; Myanmar Kyae Khat YinKyae Hmu Thu Te Tha Na Kha yee (Trip to Myanmar Bronze
Age Cultural Research), Yangon, National Museum and Library Press, 2009, p-82, plates-12, 13
12
The bronze implements which were found in the vicinity of Halin were
described on the Ph D dissertationΔ of Australian Author Bob Hudson. In these
bronze implements, one of the damaged bronze artifacts is the halberd type of bronze
axe among others.
Δ
Bob Hudson; The Origins of Bagan The Archaeological Landscape of Upper Burma to AD 13000, Ph
D dissertation, University of Sydney, 2004
13
This halberd type of bronze axe is unusual bronze tools among other finding
of bronze tools. The first finding of this halberd tool was discovered by the villager U
Chit Hlaing at Nyaunggan burial ground in about 1995-96.1 Therefore, these halberd
bronze tools were found in the excavation of Nyaunggan in 1998, Inn-De in 1999 and
the recent excavated site HL29 in 2009. The size and shape of this halberd tools is
almost the same.
In HL29, the major findings of bronze tools are those in the halberd type and
in situ of their position is distinct. All of these halberds are placed vertically in the
position of chopping or striking seriously downward the surface of burial ground. The
practice which the bronze axe was buried in chopping position can be supposed that
the bronze halberd tools were buried as some parts of funeral ceremony or a symbolic
practice signified the power of this bronze tool.
1
(a) Win Maung; Samon River Valley Civilization Recent Information from Field Exploration,
Sweden, Gothenburg Conference, 2002, p-3
(b) Elizabeth Moore and Pauk Pauk; “Nyaung-gan: A Preliminary Note on a Bronze Age Cemetery
near Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)”, USA, University of Hawaii Press, 2001, p-39
14
The halberd tools which were found in Nyaunggan, Inn-De and Halin were
only discovered in Myanmar especially in Chindwin valley, the valley region between
Mu and Ayeyawady River and Samon valley. Like these halberds, in bronze mortuary
artifacts from Yinshanling,∗ the type of halberd tool was excavated as burial goods1
but different style from the style of Myanmar halberd type.
∗
this province is located in the Yangzi River Valley of Southern China. This Yanzi River is the
longest River in Asia and third longest River in the world.
1
Charles Higham; The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia, USA, Cambridge University Press, reprint, 2000,
p-106, illustration no. 4.20
15
In Mainland Southeast Asia, the type of halberd tool was found in Doc Chua
of Southern Vietnam and the style of halberd tools was obviously those of the
halberds of clear Chinese form.1
The bronze tools of halberd type which were originated from the Yangzi River
Valley, Southern China, disseminated to the southern land of Mainland Southeast
Asia. Especially, the route which disseminated toward the western direction is directly
associated with the portion of Upper Myanmar. Perhaps Halin is the distinctive point
which communicated to the dissemination of Chinese bronze implements because the
Chinese origins of halberds were associated with the stylistic resemblance of HL29.
But Halin halberds are different from Chinese origins and can also be supposed that
the indigenous style which made up of local people in ancient Myanmar because this
style of halberd is exclusively found in Myanmar.
Other types of bronze tools were also discovered in Halin. Among them, there
are also some bronze tools which mostly resemble to those of Chinese. Therefore, as
for the origin of halberd typed bronze tools in Upper Myanmar, those of HL29 were
probably the first origins and can be earlier than those of Nyaunggan or Inn-De.
1
Charles Higham; The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia, USA, Cambridge University Press, reprint, 2000,
p-209, illustration no. 6.12
16
As for the bronze spearheads, only four spearheads were unearthed in the
HL29. In detail, some Grids which the bronze spearheads were excavated are C1, D2,
C3 and B3. The spearheads found in Grid D2 and B3 are toward the south and that of
Grid C3 is toward the north.
The measurement of spearhead of Grid D2 is about 11" long and its width is
1.7".
17
The measurement of spearhead of Grid C3 is about 9” long and about 1.5”

widths. The measurement of spearhead of Grid B3 is about 8 inches long and about 1
inch width. Typological features of these spearheads which found in HL29 are mostly
similar to those of Nyaunggan and Inn-De.1(See Fig-8)
In Grid B3, there is one burial skeleton which contained so many grave goods
such as bronze halberd axe, bronze spearhead, bronze wristlet, bone or ivory
bracelets, headdress decorated with small shell beads, seven kinds of stone beads.
(See Fig- 6) This skeleton was unearthed at the depth of 76". Only one bronze
bracelet was unearthed in the right wrist. But in this skeleton, potsherds were too rare
almost empty. (See Fig-5)
In Grid C3, there is one burial skeleton which contained some stone beads,
bronze halberd axe, bronze spearhead, small shell beads and no potsherds. This
skeleton is situated in the deepest layer of the entire grids in HL29. The depth of this
skeleton is 155" deep.
The prominent burial skeleton is situated in the Grid D2, it can be seen the pair
of tibia and foot bones associated with a bronze spearhead toward the south. The other
1
U San Win; Myanmar Kyae Khat YinKyae Hmu Thu Te Tha Na Kha yee (Trip to Myanmar Bronze
Age Cultural Research), Yangon, National Museum and Library Press, 2009, plates-12, 13
18
parts of skeleton were buried covering with 37 stones1. Each stone is in size of 6"x 6"
approximately.
Stone Rings Associated with Bronze Age Artifacts in HL29

There are 32 stone rings in HL29 burial ground.2 The colours of stone rings are of
three kinds; Green, Red-brown, Black and White.3 The entire stone rings of HL29
excavating can be found attaching in the wrists of skeletons. These are intact with
skeleton and in circular shape, rounded shape and rectangular shape. In Grid C3, the
skeleton which situated at the depth of 32" contained three stone rings; one is green
stone ring in the right wrist and two are also green in the left wrist. In Grid B3, in the
depth of 55", the skeleton was buried together with two stone rings: each is red-brown
coloure and wore in both of wrist bones.
1
2
Ibid, p-19
3
Ibid, p-19
19
(a) Red-brown ring (b) Green ring (c) Black ring (d) Green circle ring and black rounded ring (e, f)
White (marble) rings (g) Red- brown rings like (granite) (h) White ring with projection or lid (i)
skeleton in Grid D3 with stone ring in depth of 68" (j) skeleton in Grid D3 with stone ring in depth of
72" (k) skeleton in Grid B3 with stone ring and bone bracelets in depth of 60"
Additionally, the next distinctive grave goods which are the bone or ivory
bracelets being wore in the both hands. In Grid B3, bone bracelets were wore in each
hand; 26 rings in left wrist and 24 rings in right wrist. Three skeletons were found
associated with these bone or ivory bracelets as follows:
20
i. In Grid C1, in the depth of 117", a skeleton was intact with bone
bracelets
ii. In Grid B3, in the depth of 76", a skeleton was intact with bone
bracelets
iii. Also in Grid B3, in the depth of 60", a skeleton was intact with bone
bracelets
This burial bone rings were resembled to those of Myo Hla. The characteristic
of these bone bracelets is distinctively found only in Myanmar Prehistoric Age sites.
Now, until 2010, there are three sites which were discovered the bone bracelets and its
associations such as: 1. Myo Hla, Yamethin Township 2. Htan-Ta-Pin, Pyawbwe
Township1 3. Halin HL29 burial site, Watlet Township.
Conclusion
The relative dating for Nyaunggan Bronze Age artifacts are belonged in the first half
of the first millennium BC.2 This date is only relied on the form and size of the
bronzes in comparison with the bronzes of Southern China and Northern Thailand.
After Nyaunggan bronzes, many bronze evidences were evolved from the Samon
1
RATANA LTD., 2007, p-85
2
Charles Higham; Early Cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia, Bangkok, River Book Ltd., 2002, p-158
21
Region. Although the latter bronzes of Samon regions were discovered associated
with iron artifacts these can be identified that the linkage of Bronze Age Period in
Myanmar. Contemporarily with Nyaunggan and Samon, Halin was probably
associated with Bronze Age Culture because of the chanced or surface finds of
bronzes discovered in the vicinity. (See Fig-9)∗ After the first discoveries of bronzes
in Nyaunggan, within ten decades, Halin was emerged for the valuable linkage of
Myanmar Bronze Age Cultural sequence. In 2009, in the south-western corner outside
the Halin City Wall, HL29 was excavated and yielded so many evidences of bronzes
to be identified as the association of former findings of bronzes.
Especially for the bronze halberds found in HL29 are intact in situ to be able
to interpret the burial practice of Halin Bronze Age. These halberds are similar to
those of Nyaunggan and their in situ position is vertical chopping position downward
to the ground. Their size and form are almost related to Nyaunggan. Additionally
bronze spearheads were found in three sizes as various sizes found in Nyaunggan Site.
Nyaunggan bronzes were dated relatively that probably in the Late Bronze Age
Culture, 1000-700 BC. Relatively it can be identified that the bronzes of HL29 are
closely related to those of Nyaunggan because of their typological evidences. (See
Fig- 7, 14 and 20) Therefore, the bronzes of HL29 are not quite later more than
Nyaunggan bronzes. Probably HL29 bronzes might be firstly developed more than
Nyaunggan because Halin can be identified or proved that the continuous
transformation from the Prehistoric context to Protohistoric context. As for Halin
Prehistoric context, HL22 and HL30 were obviously found associated with Stone Age
Culture. After that, the Metal-Used Culture such as Bronze and Iron can be
coincidently found in Halin. The Metal-Used Cultural evidences of Halin were found
in the same environment of southern portion of Halin City Wall and the south-west.
Progressively the bronzes of HL29 were found together with many associated
goods in 2009. These findings of HL29 are to be new information for the
identification of Bronze Age Culture in Myanmar and to be able to investigate for
interpreting the details of Myamar Bronze Age Culture. To be summing up, according
to the bronze evidences of HL29 and their association which related to the South-
Chinese Bronze, HL29 can be spatially assumed that early bronze using culture was
firstly advanced in the south-western area of Halin before improving the urban state.
∗
bronze tools in this fig-9 are from those of Mr. Win Maung’s collection.
References
Higham, Charles; The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia, USA, Cambridge University Press, reprint, 2000
Higham, Charles; Early Cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia, Bangkok, River Book Ltd., 2002
Hudson, Bob; The Origins of Bagan The Archaeological Landscape of Upper Burma to AD 1300,
Ph D Thesis, Australia, University of Sydney, 2004
Moore, Elizabeth & Pauk Pauk; “Nyaung-gan: A Preliminary Note on a Bronze Age Cemetery near
Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)”, USA, University of Hawaii Press, 2001
Pautreau, Jean-Pierre; Ywa Htin Iron Age Burials in the Samon Valley, Upper Burma, Thailand, SIAM
RATANA LTD., 2007
Pyiet Phyo Kyaw; “The Skeletal Remains of Halin Excavated Sites, HL25 and HL26”, Yangon
University Research Journal, Vol. I, No.1, Dec, 2009
Library, Ministry of Culture
San Win, U; Myanmar Kyae Khat YinKyae Hmu Thu Te Tha Na Kha yee (Trip to Myanmar Bronze
Age Cultural Research), Yangon, National Museum and Library Press, 2009
Win Maung (Tampawaddy); Sa-mon River Valley Civilization (Recent Information from Field
Exploration), Sweden, Gothenburg Conference, 2002
23
24
25
26

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Bronze Age Context of HL29 at Halin

Pyiet Phyo Kyaw∗

Aim and Objective of This Study

The Sequence of Bronze Age Cultural Remains in Myanmar

Archaeological Landscape of HL29

Bronze Artifacts and Its Associations from the Excavation of HL29

1 Excavation Method_ Grid System

2 Grid Dimension _ 12’ x 12’

Information concerning the Excavating at HL29

The measurement of spearhead of Grid C3 is about 9” long and about 1.5”

Stone Rings Associated with Bronze Age Artifacts in HL29

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