The family of late Japanese archaeologist Nishimura Masanari, an expert on Vietnamese archaeology, has donated his entire library – in all, 7,000 items – to the National University of Hà Nội.

Japanese archaeologist Nishimura Masanari, his wife Noriko Nishino and their two sons who were both born in Việt Nam. — Photo courtesy of Masanari family.

This includes books, maps and magazines on the Stone Age, early agriculture, Vietnamese Đông Sơn culture during the Bronze Age, and Southeast Asian ceramic history. His collection includes a large volume of study materials in history, culture and anthropology of Việt Nam and other Southeast Asian countries.

Masanari spent more than 20 years working in Việt Nam with his wife, Dr Noriko Nishino, who is also an archaeologist. He was among one of the few foreign experts on Việt Nam’s archaeology. He also trained many young Vietnamese archaeologists.

His archaeological work in Việt Nam includes a major discovery in 1998 of a mould used to make bronze drums 2,000 years ago in Luy Lâu, in the northern province of Bắc Ninh. The only one of its kind to have been unearthed in the country, it was definite proof that Việt Nam was one of the sources for ancient drums.

The Japanese couple supported the rural community in Đương Xá, Bắc Ninh, to help them build the village’s first community museum (also the country’s first), where its extensive ceramic history is displayed.

Masanari died in a traffic accident in 2013. He was honoured with a Friendship Medal by the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences for his contribution to archaeology in Việt Nam, and his love for the country and its people./.

VNF/VNS