Thanh Hoa: Con Moong Cave certified as special national relic site

Thanh Hoa (VNA) – The People’s Committee of central Thanh Hoa province received on November 23 a certificate recognising Con Moong Cave and nearby relic sites, where traces of prehistoric man were found, as a special national relic site.

Con Moong Cave is located in Thanh Yen commune of Thach Thanh district, in the buffer zone of the Cuc Phuong National Park. It was discovered in 1974 and excavated for the first time in 1976.

In 2008 and 2009, the cave was surveyed in service of the creation of a dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition as a world cultural heritage. 

From 2010 to 2014, the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology, the Novosibirsk Institute of Archaeology – Ethnography under the Russian Academy of Science, and the Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism continued excavations and research. 

Studies show that Con Moong Cave was the continuous habitation of people in the three most typical prehistoric cultures in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, namely Son Vi, Hoa Binh and Bac Son from the Old Stone Age to the New Stone Age.

Vestiges indicate prehistoric man appeared in Con Moong Cave about 60,000 years ago.

An archaeological relic with traces dating back to different and continual cultures like Con Moong Cave is rare and valuable. Together with this cave, nearby relic sites like Nguoi Xua Cave, Moc Long Cliff, Lai Cavern and Diem Cavern form a complex of relics proving the presence of prehistoric man, and the change of their population, places of residence and production means, scientists said.

With such significant historical and cultural values, Con Moong Cave and relevant relics have been named a special national relic site. The recognition is also an important step to seek the world cultural heritage status for Con Moong Cave.-VNA