Sa Huynh- Kalanay and Pre-Sa Huynh Interaction across the South China Sea

Abstract

The Sahuynh-Kalanay Interaction Sphere (ca. 500 BC - AD 100), across and around the shorelines of the East Sea, is an important key to the nature of late prehistoric cultural relations in Southeast Asia. This paper discusses several archaeological aspects of the Sahuynh and pre-Sahuynh cultural phases, particularly questions of Sahuynh definition and origins. An East Sea exchange network involving Fengtian (eastern Taiwan) nephrite is clearly relevant for these questions, given that, in Vietnam, this nephrite of Taiwan origin has so far only been found in Sahuynh sites. In this paper, the author discusses this jade jewellery and other cultural aspects related to the Sahuynh-Kalanay Interaction Sphere, with reference to the role of the ancient Sahuynh people in the late prehistoric East Sea maritime network. The Author also discusses pre-Sahuynh pottery relationships between Taiwan, the Philippines, Hainan and southern Vietnam.