Bac Son Culture

an archaeological culture dating to the early Neolithic, widespread throughout the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia. It replaced the mesolithic Hoa Binh culture. It is named after the Bac Son massif in northern Vietnam. The Bac Son culture is represented by caves serving as residence for primitive inhabitants. Excavations have unearthed coarsely hewn axes and scrapers made from riverbed pebbles. Stone axes with partially polished blades are commonplace, as are elongated pebble tools with flutes for sharpening fluted tools. The ceramics are crude, with basket imprints showing. The bearers of the Bac Son culture engaged in gathering and, to some extent, hunting. Their anthropological classification is the Australoid racial type (in the broad sense of the term), with some admixture of Mongoloid elements.