YÊN BÁI — Axe and chisel-shaped moulds made of stone dating back to the Đông Sơn civilisation (2,000-3,000 years ago) have been discovered in the northern mountainous province of Yên Bái.

The axe-shaped mould is 8.1cm long, 5.1cm wide, 2cm thick and weighs 120gms, while the chisel-shaped one is 11.2cm long, 5.6cm wide, 3.2cm thick and weighs 360gms.

The two objects are being preserved at the provincial museum, the museum’s deputy director, Lý Kim Khoa, said.

The objects were discovered by two fishermen while casting their net in the part of the Red River that flows through Đông Anh District in Văn Yên Commune. The objects were then sent to the local museum for examination.

Experts at the museum and the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology initially concluded that the stone items were moulds for casting bronze axes and chisels dating back to the Đông Sơn civilization. They served as proof that artisans used to make tools in Yên Bái Province some 2,000 and 3,000 years ago.

The part of the Red River flowing through Yên Bái Province is 115km long. Since the 1960s, thousands of objects dating back to the Đông Sơn civilisation, including bronze jars, bronze drums, farm tools and utensils, as well as weapons and jewellery, have been discovered through bank erosion and agricultural activities. Among these objects, the Đào Thịnh and Hợp Minh bronze jars have been evaluated as the largest and most beautiful objects of their kind in Việt Nam, until now, by experts. — VNS