Holding unique values representing the world-famous Hoa Binh Civilisation, the archaeological sites of Trai Hamlet Cave and Vanh Village Stone Shelter in Lac Son district were recognised as special national relic sites in July.
Local residents have paid attention to protecting
natural landscape and environment around special national relic site of Vanh
Village Stone Shelter in Yen Phu commune, Lac Son district.
Exploring
Trai Hamlet Cave, Vanh Village Stone Shelter
Trai Hamlet Cave is located on a separate
limestone mountain, 15m above a nearby valley. It is more than 13m deep and has
an entrance 8m wide and 10m high. It contains food traces of early humans,
mainly stream and mountain snails. Statistics show that there are more than
30,000 shells per cubic metre of sediment inside this cave. Archaeologists have
found a substantial number of animal bone pieces here. Analyses indicate that
these are bones of animals living in the surrounding environment that early
humans caught for food. Rice husks and some half-burned grains have also been
discovered at a depth of 0 - 80cm underground, and they could belong to later
periods. This cave was listed as a national historical relic site in 2001.
Not far from Trai Hamlet Cave, Vanh Village
Stone Shelter is located at the foot of Da Trang (White Stone) Mountain in Vanh
village of Yen Phu commune. It is a relatively large stone shelter which is 18m
deep and has a 30m-wide entrance. It is about 5m higher than the surrounding
valley. The site was discovered and excavated by M. Colani in 1929 and also
named by the French archaeologist. Excavations at this place have revealed a
3.7m-thick cultural layer that contains mainly snails, clay, ashes, and mollusc
shells. Stone objects, human and animal bone pieces, horns, ceramic items,
stoves, and snail shells have also been found here. The shelter was named a
national historical relic site in 2003.
Promoting
relic sites’ values
Given their precious values, the two national
archaeological relic sites were recognised as special ones on July 18, 2024.
Bui Van Hung, head of the culture and
information division of Lac Son district, said that home to the two
archaeological relic sites typical for the prehistoric Hoa Binh Civilisation,
Lac Son has continually paid attention to the management, protection,
preservation, and promotion of the sites’ values. It is stepping up
communications about the places’ significance and values among the entire local
population so as to attract the public’s support for protecting the surrounding
landscape and environment. Tourism, learning, and scientific research
activities connected with the sites are also being promoted.
In the time ahead, to bring into full play the
values of these two special national relic sites, local authorities will
continue to seriously carry out management and protection activities in line
with the Law on Cultural Heritage, devise appropriate policies to encourage and
create conditions for people and businesses to engage in relic protection and
tourism development, and build new roads to connect arteries with the two
sites.
Additionally, the district will propose relic
management and rehabilitation measures to higher-level authorities in an effort
to become a destination on the tourism maps of Hoa Binh province, the region, and
the country, he added.
After being instructed by her grandmother and mother, Ho Y Du in Hang Kia hamlet, Hang Kia commune in Mai Chau district could embroider difficult and elaborate patterns on her first brocade dress that she made herself. According to the customs of the H’Mong ethnic group in the district, any girl must make a beautiful brocade dress for herself when she turns 10 to mark her maturity as well as to demonstrate the ingenuity and diligence of H’Mong girls.
In recent years, the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage values of ethnic groups in Thai Binh ward in Hoa Binh city has achieved important results, with tangible and intangible cultural values given attention.
Quang Tien commune in Hoa Binh city, home to over 1,300 Muong ethnic minority people, has worked to preserve and promote the traditional cultural traits of the group.
Lac Son district, home to an array of tangible and intangible cultural heritage items of the Muong ethnic group, has paid due attention preserving and promoting the values of their unique culture.
With rich knowledge of medicinal materials in nature, Dao ethnic minority people in Tu Son commune of Kim Boi district have practiced traditional medicine for generations and brought their long-standing therapies into play in the current life.
Da Bac district is home to five ethnic groups who make up nearly 90% of its population. Among them, the Dao ethnic group accounts for over 14%. In recent years, focus has been placed on preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Dao people, serving as a foundation for boosting community-based tourism in this mountainous district.
