Osseous Artefacts from later Prehistoric Southern Vietnam: A Technofunctional Analysis

Abstract

Relatively large assemblages of osseous implements have been recovered from sites across Mainland and Island Southeast Asia. However, only a few detailed studies have been undertaken. The majority of studies thus far undertaken focussed on osseous implements from Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene contexts. These analyses have demonstrated that the technology can be traced back to at least 40,000 BP, and the abundance and diversity increases after the Terminal Pleistocene. These studies have also made a significant contribution to our understanding of human technological capabilities, as well as increased geographic distributions of bone tool manufacture, human mobility, and the evolving nature of their use across Southeast Asia. Much less well-understood is the continuing and expanding use of osseous raw materials for implement manufacture in the later Holocene, despite the availability of alternative technology. This project aims to begin addressing the deficiency in our understanding of the manufacture and use osseous technologies during the critical period in prehistory between c.4000-2500 BP with the arrival of agricultural communities and the emergence of metallurgy in Mainland Southeast Asia. What role did osseous implements have in varied toolkits during this period, how did osseous implements evolve through time, and what significance did these raw materials have for the manufacture of implements?

To address these questions, technofunctional analyses were performed on osseous artefacts from five settlement sites in the Mekong Delta region of Southern Vietnam: the Neolithic sites of An Son (AS 4,000-3,200 BP), Loc Giang (LGi 3,900-3,200 BP), and Rach Nui (RN 3,430-3,050 BP), and the Metal Age sites of Go O Chua (GOC 3,000-1,250 BP) and Lo Gach (LG 2,800-2,700 BP). The main focus of the analysis to identify any preferences in raw material selection, manufacturing methods, and if these changed over time. The project also aimed to understand what, if any, social implications the development and use of this technology had. The study applied taxonomic comparisons to identify the osseous raw materials where possible. Following this, using reference materials, the manufacturing and use-wear traces were identified. As there are few standard practices for the analysis of osseous implements, this study also utilised several techniques originally designed for lithics analysis in an attempt to answer the research questions.

During the Neolithic the assemblages analysed are comparably small to those of the Metal Age, and the variety of morphotypes are more limited. They consist primarily of pointed implements, with a high proportion of jabbing-style fish hooks (AS/LGi) and turtle shell adzes (RN). The variability between the assemblages at AS/LGi, and RN, suggests that there was preferential production for local requirements. An unexpected outcome of this research is that rather than osseous artefacts diminishing in significance with the introduction of metal implements, and metallurgy, they appear to proliferate. The functional use of the implements diversifies, and a variety of new and complex forms emerge. Furthermore, a nuanced relationship between the osseous and metal implements can be seen where forms crossover between the two technologies, indicating preferences in form and function for the equivalent implements.

This research project demonstrates the significance of analytical study of osseous implements in understanding human behaviour and technological developments in the later Holocene. It illustrates that implement manufacture remained a significant part of technological strategies throughout the Neolithic and Metal Age. In fact, rather than observing a diminishment in the significance of osseous implement manufacture and diversity, with the introduction of metal, there is in fact a broad diversification, technological innovation, proliferation in the manufacture and notable increase in use contexts. Show more