In search of a musical past: evidence for early chordophones from Vietnam

• Published in: Antiquity Vol. 97; no. 391; pp. 141 - 157
• Main Authors: Campos, Fredeliza Z., Hull, Jennifer R., Vương, Thu Hồng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Anthropological research; Archaeology; Deer; Discovery and exploration; Ethnography; Excavation; Grave goods; Historic artifacts; Metals; Morphology; Musical instruments; Musicology; Prehistoric archaeology; Prehistoric era; Stringed instruments; Use-wear analysis; Vietnam; Southeast Asia; Mainland Southeast Asia; ancient technology; use-wear analysis; stringed musical instruments; prehistoric music; ethnographical analogy

Music likely played an important role within prehistoric societies but can be challenging to study in the absence of evidence for musical instruments. Here, the authors present two deer antlers recovered from the early Metal Age site of Go O Chua in southern Vietnam. A detailed examination of the ar...