1942-1944 Excavations
Archaeological Discoveries
Louis Malleret's excavations revealed a cosmopolitan ancient city with artifacts from Rome, China, India, and Persia.
Discovery & Excavation
Excavation at Óc Eo began on February 10, 1942, after French archaeologists discovered the site through aerial photography. Using these images, Louis Malleret identified the outlines of an ancient city with a dense network of canals, reservoirs, temples, and building foundations.
Malleret conducted the first systematic excavations in 1944 at the foot of Ba The mountain in Thoại Sơn district, An Giang province. His four-volume work L'archéologie du delta du Mékong (1959-1962) remains the foundational study.
Go Óc Eo site excavation 2002 - Nguyen (2023)
Malleret's plan of the ancient Óc Eo port city (1959) - Nguyen (2023)
Distribution of 88 Óc Eo cultural sites in Southern Vietnam - Nguyen (2023)
10 National Treasures
Artifacts recognized by Vietnam as national heritage
Linh Son Bac Buddha Relief
Stone relief
Khanh Binh Stone Buddha
Stone statue
Giong Xoai Wooden Buddha
Wooden statue
Giong Xoai Brahma Statue
Stone statue
Linga-Yoni Set
Stone religious objects
Linh Son Linga-Yoni Set
Stone religious objects
Giong Cat Nandin Ring
Gold jewelry
Mukhalinga Ba The
Stone sculpture
Linh Son Bac Buddha Head
Stone sculpture
Cay Tram Mound Jar Tomb
Ceramic burial
Evidence of Roman Trade
Roman Golden Medallions
Among the most remarkable finds were golden medallions from the reigns of Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE) and Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE). These Roman emperors were associated with the embassy to China in 166 CE.
These medallions, now in the Museum of Vietnamese History in Hồ Chí Minh City, provide tangible evidence of Rome's far-reaching trade networks—supporting Pliny's complaint about the "drain of Roman gold" to the East.
A.H. Christie (1979) noted these Roman objects added weight to the identification of Kattigara with Óc Eo.
Roman gold medallion of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE) - Museum of Vietnamese History
Cosmopolitan Artifacts
Chinese Artifacts
- • Bronze mirrors from Han dynasty
- • Coins and ceramics
- • Trade goods mentioned in dynastic records
Indian Artifacts
- • Brahmanical statuary
- • Buddhist sculptures
- • Pottery and religious objects
Persian/Middle Eastern
- • Glass beads
- • Traded goods via maritime routes
Local Production
- • Gold jewelry imitating Roman coins
- • Silver coins with hamsa bird
- • Locally minted Funan currency
Indian-Style Brick
Ba The mountain - Evidence of Indian architectural techniques
Han Bronze Mirror
Chinese import demonstrating trade connections
Recent Developments
LIDAR Survey
Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences conducted extensive mapping using LIDAR technology, revealing the ancient city's layout in unprecedented detail.
Brick Well Discovery
Square brick well discovered at Go Giong Cat site, demonstrating sophisticated water management infrastructure.
Spice Processing Discovery
A stone slab used for spice processing was discovered, representing the earliest known evidence of such activity in Southeast Asia.
Square brick well at Go Giong Cat site (2019) - Nguyen (2023)