(HBO) – The organising board of a workshop marking 90 years since the world’s recognition of the Hoa Binh Civilisation held a tour of some typical archaeological sites of this civilisation on November 22. Participants included officials of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the ministry’s Cultural Heritage Department, the Institute of Archaeology, the Vietnam Archaeological Association, and domestic and foreign scientists. Vice Chairman of the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan, officials of some departments and sectors, and representatives of the Lac Son district People’s Committee also joined the delegation.
The delegation visits the Vanh Village stone shelter,
a relic site in Yen Phu commune of Lac Son district.
The delegation visited the Trai Hamlet cave in
Tan Lap commune and the Vanh Village stone shelter in Yen Phu commune, which
are typical archaeological sites of the Hoa Binh Civilisation. The Trai Hamlet
cave, discovered in 1975, has been excavated and studied for many years.
Research findings show that it dates back to the Hoa Binh Civilisation in the
Stone Age. In 2001, it was recognised as a national archaeological site.
Scientists found entrances to the cave in 2004 and 2008. Aside from stone tools
and food vestiges typical for the Hoa Binh Civilisation, many beautifully
decorated ceramic pieces and sharpened axes dating back 3,500 - 3,200 years
have also been unearthed at this cave.
Meanwhile, the Vanh Village stone shelter was
found by French archaeologist M. Colani in 1929 during an archaeological survey
of the southern limestone mountain area of Hoa Binh province. As many as 951
objects were collected there. In addition to hewn tools, a large number of
sharpened tools and stone bracelets were also discovered. According to the
study results announced in 1930, this relic site dates back about 17,000 -
8,000 years and belongs to the Hoa Binh Civilisation. Therefore, it was
classified as a site of the middle period of the civilisation.
During the tour, Dr. Nguyen Viet, Director of
the Centre for Prehistoric Southeast Asian Studies, updated participants on the
2022 excavation, which has given a further insight into the Hoa Binh
Civilisation. The latest research efforts revealed that this civilisation was
much older and more diverse than what have been known so far. Given this, more
interesting findings are expected in the future./.
Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.
Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.
The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.
Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.
More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.