(HBO) – The Museum of Hoa Binh province has coordinated with the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistoric Studies and the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology to excavate the Trai Hamlet cave and the Vanh Village stone shelter in Lac Son district, which are national archaeological relic sites and also home to diverse and outstanding items dating back to the Hoa Binh Civilisation.
Dr. Nguyen Viet, Director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistoric Studies, introduces the items collected during the recent excavation of two archaeological sites in Lac Son district.
The excavation aimed to collect more scientific data about the Hoa Binh Civilisation in the province, gain an insight into the local history and culture, and serve display at the Provincial Museum.
The activity covered 50sq.m. at the Vanh Village stone shelter and 20sq.m. at the Trai Hamlet cave, collecting a number of stone and bone tools and burned rice grains.
Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the items have been sent to the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistoric Studies for examining their age and value. Given the sites’ values, the department will propose the provincial People’s Committee work to seek the recognition of these places as special national relic sites and devise more measures for preserving and bringing into play their values.
The Trai Hamlet cave in Tan Lap commune was where the oldest vestiges of the Hoa Binh Civilisation in the Red River Delta were found. Discovered in 1975, this site has been excavated for many times by scientists. More than 5,000 objects have been collected since then, indicating that this was a long-term place of residence and also a tool making workshop of humans in the Hoa Binh Civilisation. So far, it is home to the most diverse stone and bone tools among the excavated relic sites of this civilisation. The cave could be classified as a site dating back to the early period of the New Stone Age.
Meanwhile, the Vanh Village stone shelter in Yen Phu commune was discovered by M. Colani in 1929. Research findings revealed by the French archaeologist in 1930 showed that this place dates back 17,000 - 18,000 years ago, which was the middle period of the Hoa Binh Civilisation.
Dr. Nguyen Viet, Director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistoric Studies, said with the large number of tools, evidence of humans’ long-term residence, and the first fine art traces found in Vietnam, the Trai Hamlet cave and Vanh Village stone shelter could be recognised as special relic sites. All the items collected from these places will be handed over to and preserved at the Hoa Binh Provincial Museum to serve research and exhibition purposes to bring into play their values and meet the public’s demand./.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
