Three Gold Masks Discovered in 2,000-Year-Old Tombs at the Giồng Lớn Site on Long Sơn Island Have Been Recognized as National Treasures.
More than 20 years ago, while digging for sand in Hamlet 3, Long Sơn Island Commune (Vũng Tàu City), locals uncovered two bracelets and some pottery shards, prompting them to report to the authorities and specialized agencies. “Based on our professional experience, we assessed that this could be an important archaeological site because only burial sites contain intact artifacts,” said Dr. Trương Đắc Chiến, a researcher at the Vietnam National Museum of History.
Two gold masks found in Giồng Lớn Long Sơn. (Photo: Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Provincial Museum)
Following a survey, the Giồng Lớn Long Sơn archaeological site was identified in an area of sand dunes approximately 3-4 meters high and about 100 meters wide, within a mangrove ecosystem extending about one kilometer, approximately one kilometer from the coastline. In 2003 and 2005, the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Museum conducted two excavation campaigns over an area of 544m2, uncovering 80 burial sites, including 72 earth tombs and 8 jar graves. Among the earth tombs, three were buried with a gold mask.
All three masks are rectangular, measuring respectively: 4.5cm in length and 10.9cm in width; 6cm in length and 9.7cm in width; 9.1cm in length and 7.5cm in width, found in tombs that showed no signs of human remains, at depths of 0.8-1.2 meters. They are nearly intact, embossed with wide-open eyes, clearly defined eyebrows, and nose bridges, with perforated corners… One mask features a complete human face design.
Three artifacts made from placer gold, with gold content ranging from 75-96%, were intricately crafted using relief techniques. After the gold sheets were hammered thin, artisans sketched the basic facial features on the back of the mask. The front was then carved according to the previously sketched outlines.
“The masks are burial artifacts that hold symbolic and spiritual significance, reflecting the status of the tomb’s owner. They may have held noble positions or been leaders within their communities,” Dr. Chiến noted.
The excavation also revealed hundreds of rare artifacts such as earrings, beads, gold leaves, gold phallus models, pottery, tools, and weapons… Archaeologists believe these tombs date from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD.
The third gold mask with a complete human face design. (Photo: Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Provincial Museum)
“The artifacts at Giồng Lớn Long Sơn represent a unique collection. Within the 2,000-year timeframe, this site contains the richest collection of gold artifacts and is especially notable for the three gold masks,” Mr. Chiến stated, adding that during the same period in Vietnam, several sites in Central and Southern Vietnam had discovered gold burial artifacts, but they were smaller in size, primarily consisting of beads and earrings.
In the context of Southeast Asia, archaeological records indicate that from the beginning of the Common Era until the 15th century, the practice of burying masks was quite common in the island regions across a vast area including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, although these were typically gold leaves placed over the deceased’s face.
According to Mr. Chiến, the Giồng Lớn Long Sơn site plays a significant role in the formation of the Óc Eo culture in the southeastern coastal region. It serves as a spatial link between maritime trade routes and inland settlements, as well as a chronological bridge confirming the continuous development of the Iron Age in this region leading to the Óc Eo culture.
Burial artifacts including pottery, knives, iron chisels, and stone bracelets found at Giồng Lớn Long Sơn, displayed at the Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Provincial Museum. (Photo: Trường Hà)
It is expected that the three gold masks will be unveiled to the public by the Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Museum this month.
