This animal statue was discovered at the archaeological site of Doc Chua in Binh Duong Province, making it the only artifact of its kind found in nearly 2,000 years.
According to reports, the bronze animal statue resembling a dog was found at the Doc Chua archaeological site in Tan My Commune, Tan Uyen District, Binh Duong Province, and dates back over 3,000 years. The statue was uncovered in an ancient burial mound near the settlement of ancient people, thought to be a grave good buried with the deceased.
In the past 2,000 years, archaeologists have not encountered any statue that resembles or is similar to this one. Currently, researchers are still searching for answers to the questions of precisely what this statue represents and its intended purpose.
The 3,000-year-old animal statue preserved at Binh Duong Museum.
It is known that the animal statue stands 5.4 cm tall and is 6.4 cm long, made of bronze, and has a grayish-blue color due to weathering and rust. The statue features four legs and stands on a rectangular base, with four curved protrusions towards the legs. The base and legs are cast as a single piece. The head has a long snout and a wide mouth that extends to the sides, with a sharp ridge on top of the head between the ears, which has a break. The sides of the body are decorated with a zigzag line pattern resembling a sun, akin to a saddle. The tail of this animal statue is quite large, with the tip curled into three circular loops, one of which is broken. This creature is male and has relatively large genitalia.
Close-up of the controversial ancient animal statue.
There are many differing opinions regarding this animal statue; some speculate it might be a deer due to its antlers, others think it could be a horse, while some suggest it resembles a hunting dog…
Associate Professor – Dr. Bui Chi Hoang, Deputy Director of the Southern Institute of Social Sciences, Director of the Archaeological Center, and a member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, stated: “Creating an artifact of such complexity requires its owner to belong to a community of residents with a highly developed metalworking and bronze casting skill. It must be established that this is a rare artifact. It is not just an ordinary artifact but likely one of the products of spiritual significance to the Southern community during their conquest of this land.”
The Doc Chua animal statue attracting archaeologists at the site.
Many hypotheses have been proposed regarding the statue’s purpose; some archaeologists believe it was a grave good and thus belonged to an individual. However, the specific function of the statue remains unknown. Currently, the mysteries surrounding this 3,000-year-old animal statue remain unsolved. This animal statue is currently housed at the Binh Duong Provincial Museum and was recognized as a national treasure in 2013.
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