This pediform or shoe-shaped axe head is one example of many types of bronze ritual weapons that were used in burials of the bronze-making Dong Son culture. Large quantities of axe heads, as well as knives and arrow heads have been found with other bronze objects such as ritual drums, in burials in the Red River Delta region. Stone moulds have also been found, with carved impressions that indicate they were used to cast these weapons. This piece was also decorated with motifs of human figures seated in a row, probably in a long boat.The sophisticated technology used in bronze-casting, suggests that Dong Son society was advanced enough to have specialists who would have worked full-time in this field. The effects of this were to be seen in the spread of bronze goods and technology throughout the Southeast Asian region.
