Archaeologists discovered a grave dating as far back as 2,300-2,500 years ago in northern Phu Tho province (Vietnam), home to the Hung Kings of the Dong Son civilisation. The grave was unearthed at the Go De site in Lam Thao district by a group of archaeologists who were working on a project entitled "Hung Temples and relics of the Hung dynasty". Included in the grave, located in the Gia Ninh tribe region, were many possesions of the deceased.
     Lying 1.15 metres beneath the ground surface and facing north-west, the grave contained bronze jars, spears, square-angled axes, hoes, chisels, daggers and pottery bottles, all of which bear extraordinary patterns. According to Associate Prof. of historical sciences Trinh Sinh of the Viet Nam Institute of Archaeology, the size and patterns on the bronze spears and objects buried along with the deceased indicate that the grave was dedicated to a powerful person. Noteworthy is the bronze square-angled axe which is the largest discovered so far. Earlier, the archaeologists also discovered four ancient graves in the area.

Source: Vietnam News Agency (15 October 2003)