Vietnamese archaeologists have found a number of rice grains dating back an estimated 3,000 years ago at Thanh Den Relic Site in Hanoi's Me Linh district that are still capable of sprouting.
Associate Professor, Dr Lam Thi My Dung, head of the Archaeology Division at Hanoi National University's History Department, who was in charge of the excavation at Thanh Den Site, said scientists have found many valuable antiquities including rice grains during excavation work since April 12.
"Scientists have determined the age of these grains by defining their Carbon isotopic content," said Dr Dung.
She said, however, that scientists would still have to undertake further study to determine their precise age.
"We might have to send the paddies abroad to see if more advanced laboratories can determine their exact age," she said.
Dr Vu The Long, former head of the Archaeology Institute's Section for Personnel and Environmental Research, said after visiting the site which dates back some 3,000 years that he believed these paddies were lying in a distinctly defined historical layer.
He said that the grains could have been accumulated by rats because of their habit of storing food or by grain falling into cracks in the ground by chance.
Long said, however, that he still has some doubts about the age because many of the excavated paddies' skin colour remained fresh aside from a few rotten examples also found in situ.
He asked researchers to further research the age of the grains.
"I've read a range of international documents about lotus seeds which can grow after hundreds of years, so as archaeologists we're very excited to see whether the same is true for these grains. It's great if we can prove they are capable of sprouting after 3,000 years," said Long.
Meanwhile, Professor of Biology Nguyen Lan Dung said "according to theory, the micro-organism of the cells could be preserved for thousands of years, only developing if meeting favourable environmental conditions, if they haven't gone rotten, that is."
Dung said he was still surprised about the story, and hoped it proved true.
Dr Nguyen Van Bo, director of the Viet Nam Institute for Agriculture Science said "We are examining the authenticity of these paddies by sowing 6 grains at the Agriculture Heredity Institute until their plants give new grains so that we could compare their genes with modern varieties."
Dung said "I'm in charge of the excavation so I confirm that these grains were from a kitchen hole dating back to the Dong Dau culture about 3,000-3,500 years ago. They were 1m deep under the site surface. We saw no signs of disturbance in the soil there, particularly at the place where the grains were lying."
Thanh Den is a well-known Vietnamese archaeological site. Seven excavations have taken place at the site since 2001./.
Associate Professor, Dr Lam Thi My Dung, head of the Archaeology Division at Hanoi National University's History Department, who was in charge of the excavation at Thanh Den Site, said scientists have found many valuable antiquities including rice grains during excavation work since April 12.
"Scientists have determined the age of these grains by defining their Carbon isotopic content," said Dr Dung.
She said, however, that scientists would still have to undertake further study to determine their precise age.
"We might have to send the paddies abroad to see if more advanced laboratories can determine their exact age," she said.
Dr Vu The Long, former head of the Archaeology Institute's Section for Personnel and Environmental Research, said after visiting the site which dates back some 3,000 years that he believed these paddies were lying in a distinctly defined historical layer.
He said that the grains could have been accumulated by rats because of their habit of storing food or by grain falling into cracks in the ground by chance.
Long said, however, that he still has some doubts about the age because many of the excavated paddies' skin colour remained fresh aside from a few rotten examples also found in situ.
He asked researchers to further research the age of the grains.
"I've read a range of international documents about lotus seeds which can grow after hundreds of years, so as archaeologists we're very excited to see whether the same is true for these grains. It's great if we can prove they are capable of sprouting after 3,000 years," said Long.
Meanwhile, Professor of Biology Nguyen Lan Dung said "according to theory, the micro-organism of the cells could be preserved for thousands of years, only developing if meeting favourable environmental conditions, if they haven't gone rotten, that is."
Dung said he was still surprised about the story, and hoped it proved true.
Dr Nguyen Van Bo, director of the Viet Nam Institute for Agriculture Science said "We are examining the authenticity of these paddies by sowing 6 grains at the Agriculture Heredity Institute until their plants give new grains so that we could compare their genes with modern varieties."
Dung said "I'm in charge of the excavation so I confirm that these grains were from a kitchen hole dating back to the Dong Dau culture about 3,000-3,500 years ago. They were 1m deep under the site surface. We saw no signs of disturbance in the soil there, particularly at the place where the grains were lying."
Thanh Den is a well-known Vietnamese archaeological site. Seven excavations have taken place at the site since 2001./.
