11 February
Origin of Human beings in Myanmar’s Bronze Age In finding cultural evidences of the Bronze Age, there are several difficulties to discover settlement areas where they lived. The people of Myanmar’s Stone Age used to live in Caves by means of hunting in the forests; they gradually went down to the plains to take up agricultural farming and settled down there near rivers and streams in open seasons. They built their houses by wood and bamboo which were easily available.
After living there for a long time, they came to learn how to make objects out of metal; different kinds of moulds were found in the region of Myin-Oo-Hley, indicating the bronze weapons were used in the region. It can be assumed that the weapons they used were made by themselves.
The Site for the Bronze Age people According to the findings of archaeological excavations, the Bronze Age areas are near the plains. In Myanmar , their settlement areas are found in the middle of the country. They are believed to have lived in houses made of wood and bamboo; these houses naturally fell into ruin after a long time. That might be the reason why evidences or habitation sites could not found . Even if evidences are not found, they are assumed to have a belief in afterlife. That is why the dead were systematically buried together with his paraphernalia, in accordance with the findings in their graveyards.
Living Styles
By choosing the site of graveyards, those living in those regions are believed to have settled down not for some time, but for a long time.
They lived like a family with their chieftain, governance and in a high standard of living. According to the archaeological findings, the Bronze Age people were assumed to have consumed different kinds of animals whose skeletons are found in their graveyards. They are believed to have eaten domestic animals as well as wild animals such as samburs and deer.
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Cows were domesticated in West Asia some 6000 years ago, whereas in China, some 3400 years ago. Goats and sheep were domesticated In West Asia some 7000 years ago. Cows, goats and sheep were domesticated except dogs which were used for hunting. In Bronze Age, agriculture was extended with no knowledge of crops were grown. Agriculture was followed by animal husbandry, in the pursuance of trading. In that situation, the change of civilization to that of higher civilization would not last long as previously thought.
Ancient articles which were used in civilized societies in a certain period of time are found in use at the beginning of the late era. The evidences of stone weapons and bronze articles were found during excavations in Ywagongyi Region in 2009 and again during Thitgon excavations, mixtures of bronze and iron weapons were found.
Urbanization
In prehistoric times, ancient Myanmar people lived in separate small villages and are believed and are believed to have formed an urbanized society from the valley of Samong. They were divided among themselves, thereby forming three groups: one group proceeded to Hanlin Region; another group went to Beithano Region and the third one to Sri Ksetra Kingdom.
According to archaeological excavations, burial mounds are found on the slopes of the hills.
Characters in the Bronze Age
By studying their characteristics, the dead were systematically buried in a designated graveyards. Their burial ground happens to be in the regions of a hill; their settlement are not easily found; the villages or graveyards are believed to have located near streams and drains.
The ancient people earned their living in agriculture and animal husbandry. Handicraft included pottery, ornamental beads and weapons.
By studying fossil bones with foods, they are assumed to believed in afterlife. Bronze articles were made of stone moulds. They might have a leader; interrelations between villages are believed to have existed. In the Bronze Age, the dead are found together with bronze weapons,bronze bracelets , stone and bone beads and earthen pots.
Besides graveyards, the place where bronze weapons were manufactured is also found. The excavated Bronze Age areas saw their lifestyles, religious beliefs, economic lives and their settlement styles.
Myanma Culture in the Bronze Age
Myanma culture in the Bronze Age is complete with above-mentioned characteristics. The opinion that there is no existence of Myanmar Bronze Age is totally wrong. Myanmar-French archaeological cooperation paved a way for a study tour for excavations of the Bronze Age sites in Myanmar with assistance of foreign experts under the auspices of Departments of Archaeology and National Museums.
The results prompted the Myanmar to rise in great dignity and to achieve fame in the world. In the years to come, Myanmar Bronze Age will begin visible vividly after excavations in related respective areas that will show how they lived in the Bronze Age with a long tradition.
By Mann Thit Nyein (Archaeology)
Translated by Arakan Sein
