Information Sheet N0.A-0758(I)

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                   MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
                                             YANGON

                                    Information Sheet

                           N0.A-0758(I)          8th  January 1999 	

(1)		Workshop on Bronze Age Culture of Nyaunggan Held at IBC

		The Workshop on the Bronze Age Culture of Nyaunggan jointly sponsored by the
Office of Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of
Education and the Ministry of Culture was held at the International Business
Centre on Pyay Road on 7 January, with the opening address by Secretary-1 of
the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. What could possibly
be termed a Bronze Age Site, was discovered in the vicinity of Nyaunggan in
Upper Myanmar about a year ago. Since then, Myanmar scholars and experts of
many institutes and departments, have, under the auspices of the Office of
Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence, pooled their intellectual and
material resources to collaborate in unravelling the History of the Bronze Age
Culture in Myanmar.  In his address Secretary-1 pointed out that In the past,
archaeologists and other researchers were able to find only a few Bronze Age
implements, totalling a little over a dozen, and even these were merely
surface finds. Hence, many scholars, for lack of material evidence, were of
the opinion that there had been no Bronze Age culture in Myanmar and that
after the Neolithic Age the transition was made directly to the Iron Age. But
over the past year, scholars at work on systematic excavations at the
Nyaunggan Site have discovered a large number of Bronze implements and other
assorted artifacts.  He also noted that the guest scholars and Myanmar
colleagues have been on a field trip to the excavation site and have conducted
on-the-spot examinations of the artifacts and human remains retrieved from the
ancient burial ground. The workshop began at 9.30 am, and member of the
Myanmar Historical Commission Dr. Than Tun chaired the morning session. The
papers presented in the morning session were on " Geological observations on
Nyaunggan burial ground (A preliminary report) " by Professor Dr. Pe Maung
Than of Department of Geology of Yangon University, "Excavations at Nyaunggan
Bronze Age Site" by Director U Pauk Pauk of Department of Archaeology of the
Ministry of Culture, " Archaeological findings at Nyaunggan Bronze Age Site"
by Director-General of Archaeolgy Department, " Burial practice in Nyaunggan
Bronze Age Site" by Associate Professor U Kyaw Han of Departmet of
Anthropology of YU, " Preliminary study of bones found in Nyaunggan Site" by
Head of Department of Anatomy of Institute of Dental Medicine Dr. Khin Lay Yi,
" Identification of Bronze artifacts" by Lecturer U Nyunt Htay of Department
of Metallurgy of Yangon Technological University, " Beads from Nyaunggan Site"
by Professor U San Nyein of Department of Archaeology of YU, and " The
environs of Nyaunggan Site" by Assistant Research Officer U Sein Myint of the
Universities Historical Research Centre.  Member of the Myanmar Historical
Commission Dr. Khin Maung Nyunt presided over the afternoon session of general
discussion. The nine foreign scholars and four observers, together with
Secretary of Myanmar Historical Commission , Director-General and other
officials, were on a field trip to the excavation site from 2 to 4 January.
Five of them gave a presentation on the findings related with Bronze Age in
comparison with those in foreign countries.

(2)		Secretary-1 Receives Leaders Magazine Chief Editor

		Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
received Chief Editor of the Leaders Magazine Mr Henry Dormann who called at
Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence on 7 January.

(3)		22-Member Mountaineering Team Conquers Mt. Victoria in Chin State

		A 22-member mountaineering team led by Chairman of Yangon University Hiking
and Mountaineering Association and Secretary of Myanmar Hiking and
Mountaineering Federation, conquered the 10,500-foot-high Mt. Victoria in Chin
State. The team comprising 15 men and 7 women scaled the highest mountain in
Chin State via Kyaukhtu-Mindat. They reached the camp at the peak on 1 January
morning.. By the time they reached the peak, the temperature was -4  H C. The
mountaineering team arrived back at Mindat where they were welcomed by
Chairman of Mindat District Peace and Development Council and officials. The
district and township authorities hosted a dinner in their honour.

(4)		Myanmar Disabled Sports Contingent Leaves for Bangkok

		Myanmar disabled sports contingent will take part  in the VII Far East and
South Pacific Games for the Disabled in Bangkok, Thailand on 7 January
morning. The sports contingent comprises 40 members. They will participate in
track & field, volleyball and swimming events from 10 to 16 Januar.
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