(HBO) – The Hoa Binh Civilisation is a renowned prehistoric one in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Its relic sites have been discovered and studied in many periods in history by different teams and individuals.
Archaeologist Dr. Nguyen Viet are still
applying himself to the study of the Hoa Binh Civilisation.
The one who discovered and laid the foundation
for the research of the Hoa Binh Civilisation in the country was French
archaeologist Madeleine Colani. More than 20 studies of the civilisation by her
left a great imprint on archaeology in Vietnam and Indochina as a whole.
Following Colani’s findings, some Vietnamese and
international scientists continued studying this civilisation.
In the early 1960s, Prof. Dr. Boriscopski, a
Russian expert in the Old Stone Age from the Leningrad (Saint Peterburg) State
University of the then Soviet Union, came to Vietnam to help train the first
generation of the country’s archaeologists. He re-examined some caves that
Colani had discovered and excavated and also conducted excavations at Muoi and
Tam caves.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Dr. Chester
Gorman from the US carried out a research on the Hoa Binh Civilisation in
Southeast Asia. He was the first person to use screening to shed light on plant
traces of the civilisation and formulate a hypothesis about the practice of
agriculture in the Hoa Binh Civilisation. Gorman visited Vietnam and caves in
Hoa Binh from 1978.
A Japanese archaeologist who also greatly
contributed to the civilisation study was Nishimura Manasary, who had taken
part in some excavations in Thailand and then came to Vietnam in the 1990s to
research Trai Hamlet Cave. His findings were publicised at a conference marking
the 60th anniversary of the civilisation recognition in Hanoi in 1992.
Among Vietnamese archaeologists, the researchers
dedicating to the study include Assoc. Prof. Hoang Xuan Chinh, an expert in the
Stone Age and former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology.
He excavated some caves and published some articles and books about the Hoa
Binh Civilisation.
Another is Dr. Nguyen Viet, Director of the
Centre for Prehistoric Southeast Asian Studies, who was the first person to
apply screening and micro archaeological documentation to archaeological
studies in Vietnam in 1982, 1986 and 1987, regarding such caves as Trai Hamlet,
Vanh Village, Tre Hamlet, Muoi, Con Moong, Cang, and Sung Sam.
Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said aside from the abovementioned
scientists, others from many countries such asNepal, India, Thailand,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and China have also studied the Hoa Binh
Civilisation.
After nearly one century of research, the Hoa
Binh Civilisation has always been a unique prehistoric civilisation attractive
to generations of archaeologists. Amid the science development nowadays, the
study of the civilisation promises many more mysteries to be revealed, he
added./.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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