(HBO) - Hoa Binh city Currently there is a road and a hotel named Colani in Hoa Binh City. It is a tribute to the French archaeologist, Madelene Colani, who has proposed the concept of "Hoa Binh Culture” and it is also for the other generations of Hoa Binh people to know and be proud of the place where they are living, which is the cradle of "Hoa Binh Culture”.
Hoa Binh culture is a famous culture of the prehistoric period, which was 18,000 years ago. This is a typical culture in the mainland Southeast Asian countries, in southern China and in the western part of the delta of the 3 big rivers in Northern Vietnam, in which there is Da River running through the territory of Hoa Binh province.
From the excavation of relic sites of the caves in the limestone mountainous area of Hoa Binh, in 1927, the French archaeologist, Madelene Colani, proposed the concept of "Hoa Binh Culture”. Accordingly, in 1932, the first conference of Far Eastern prehistoricists meeting in Hanoi recognized the term "Hoa Binh Culture” as a term to refer to an ancient culture that appeared and existed on territory of prehistoric Vietnam, and affirmed that Hoa Binh was one of the centers of the primitive people in Vietnam.
According to the research by M.Colani: the residents of "Hoa Binh Culture” used to live in groups in caves, hunting and collecting food for a living. The people at that time knew how to use pebbles with their crafting to create almond-shaped, disk-shaped and later short ax-shaped tools.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thi, the Director of the Provincial Museum, who has studied and unearthed the archaeological relics related to the "Hoa Binh culture” for hundreds of times says: Currently, over 130 sites under Hoa Binh culture” have been discovered in Vietnam, of which, there are over 70 relics discovered and studied in Hoa Binh. The archaeological sites belonging to "Hoa Binh culture” are mainly located in the caves and on the stone roofs.
They have been discovered in Can cave, in the cave of Trai hamlet, on the stone roof of Vong hamlet, on the stone roof of Tom, on the stone roof of Chieng Khen, in the cave of Doi hamlet, in Muoi cave and so on. These common relics in "Hoa Binh culture” is the kitchen, the burial tombs, the post-meal ruins, the labor tools and the other artifacts of the primitive people. The traces of the clam shells, snails, the animal teeth and bones, and the nut shells of some herbs have been remained in the cultural layer and a large number of relics, animal and human bones.
Currently, a number of relics are stored in the Provincial Museum. They are on the display on the occasion of the province's major holidays and they have been participating in thematic exhibits at the regional level with a view to introducing the visual images showing the steps of human evolution through "Hoa Binh Culture”. The displays on "Hoa Binh Culture” are often the simulations and reconstruction of a cave of the accommodation of the primitive people. There are the people, the fire stoves, the stone working tools, and there are a lot of shells, stone tools and pieces of scrap (eaten and left by humans) on the floor of the cave.
Proudly living in the cradle of "Hoa Binh culture”, Hoa Binh people always raise the awareness of preserving and promoting the cultural identity, creating their own characteristics of the gateway land of the Capital and the gates in the Northwest of the country.
The researchers and the students are visiting the relics of Trai cave, Tan Lap commune (Lac Son) - an excavation of the related to "Hoa Binh culture”
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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