A city built on cities
On the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, about 204 kilometers north of Mandalay, lies the ancient city of Tagaung. Burmese chronicles describe it as the cradle of their civilization, founded as early as 850 BCE. Archaeological work, however, tells a more complex story grounded in the soil. Excavations have uncovered a deep stratigraphic record of human settlement, with evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age occupation dating back to approximately 1000-1300 BCE.
The most prominent feature of Tagaung is its triple-walled fortification system. These concentric enclosures—built of earth and brick—span a vast area, with the largest outer wall enclosing 204 hectares. The northernmost enclosure covers 19 hectares, with a second, "Anya" enclosure, covering 62 hectares. Excavations across these areas reveal a city that grew and was rebuilt over many centuries. The earliest urban structures, associated with the Pyu city-states, emerge in the archaeological record in the early centuries CE. Much of the western wall system has been lost to the shifting course of the Ayeyarwady River over time.
A chronicle in clay
The pottery found at Tagaung provides a detailed timeline of its cultural and economic connections. The ceramic artifacts change distinctly through the occupation layers, showing a progression from early indigenous styles to later wares influenced by regional trade. Some of the earliest finds include socketed bronze implements and anthropomorphic pottery stamps.
Later ceramic assemblages from the Bagan period (11th-13th centuries CE) are more common and include storage jars, goblets, bowls, and long-necked vases. The typology of burial urns found at Tagaung also differs from those at other Pyu sites like Sriksetra and Beikthano. Tagaung lids are typically rounded with knob-like stems, whereas urns from the southern Pyu cities often have flat, fluted lids. Some Tagaung vessels feature one to three rows of stamped motifs, a decorative style distinct from the geometric lines seen on other Pyu pottery. These ceramic sequences show Tagaung's role as a nexus for trade and cultural exchange, connecting it to networks extending toward India, China, and Vietnam.