Between River and Sea: Funan's Shifting Role in Mekong delta and South China Sea interaction networks during the 1st to 6th century

Funan is an ancient state centred on the southern Mekong delta between the 1st and 6th century CE. Traditionally, Funan has been seen largely in terms of its long-distance contacts to India, limiting thorough studies of regional interaction. This research instead focuses on regional exchange and interaction within the Mekong delta, thereby centring indigenous Southeast Asian developments and connecting long-distance interactions with local dynamics. To assess the role of Funan in riverine and coastal exchange networks this paper studies the assemblages of stone and glass beads, ceramics and metal objects in mainland Southeast Asia. Results show that the stone bead types and the type of glass used in glass beads differs in the Mekong delta and other parts of mainland Southeast Asia. The ceramic assemblage is overwhelmingly local, with some stylistic parallels to South Asian shapes common in mainland Southeast Asia. The metal assemblage at Funan sites is mainly gold, as gold was...Show moreFunan is an ancient state centred on the southern Mekong delta between the 1st and 6th century CE. Traditionally, Funan has been seen largely in terms of its long-distance contacts to India, limiting thorough studies of regional interaction. This research instead focuses on regional exchange and interaction within the Mekong delta, thereby centring indigenous Southeast Asian developments and connecting long-distance interactions with local dynamics. To assess the role of Funan in riverine and coastal exchange networks this paper studies the assemblages of stone and glass beads, ceramics and metal objects in mainland Southeast Asia. Results show that the stone bead types and the type of glass used in glass beads differs in the Mekong delta and other parts of mainland Southeast Asia. The ceramic assemblage is overwhelmingly local, with some stylistic parallels to South Asian shapes common in mainland Southeast Asia. The metal assemblage at Funan sites is mainly gold, as gold was produced at Funan sites. The gold assemblage at Funan sites is distinct from that at nearby sites in mainland Southeast Asia. The results indicate a clear difference between the material distributions within the Mekong delta and the coastal regions of mainland Southeast Asia, as well as showing intensive connections to South Asia that led to rapid socioeconomic changes around the 3rd century CE. The exchange network centred on the Mekong delta primarily involves localized prestige objects utilizing South Asian elements or techniques. The localized objects are distributed throughout the Mekong delta and are distinct from prestige objects spread in other parts of mainland Southeast Asia. This indicates the importance of long-distance connections as well as the building of local alliances using exotic prestige objects, and shows the valuable connections of riverine local trade with coastal exchange. The results also demonstrate the importance of recognizing and studying the fluidity of the maritime exchange network of mainland Southeast Asia by effectively utilizing approaches from maritime archaeology.Show less

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Between River and Sea: Funan's Shifting Role in Mekong delta and South China Sea interaction networks during the 1st to 6th century