Hanoi (VNA) – Vuon Chuoi, an archaeological site in Hanoi’s outlying district of Hoai Duc, has emerged as a treasure trove of historical significance.
Showcasing continuous habitation and burial practices from the pre-Dong Son era, the site offers invaluable insight into the Bronze Age in northern Vietnam.
On October 18, an archaeological excavation team announced groundbreaking discoveries that shed light on the pre-Dong Son era at Vuon Chuoi.
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Lan Cuong, General Secretary of the Vietnam Archaeological Association, unveiled the most striking find: several skeletons adorned with bracelets on both arms. These were found alongside evidence of cultural practices such as upper incisor removal and the placement of ceramics and bronze items with the deceased. The presence of valuable grave goods has unfortunately made this burial area a target for looters, but the excavation still revealed more than 70 pre-Dong Son and 40 Dong Son burials, categorised into early and late Dong Son era.
The well-preserved skeletal remains from various periods promise to unlock new avenues of research into the anthropology, genetics, pathology, mobility, and nutrition of ancient Vietnamese people during the Bronze Age.
The excavation has also uncovered numerous traces of ancient hearths, furnaces, and remnants of daily life, providing a vivid picture of the past. The team has collected a wealth of artifacts made from stone, copper, ceramics, wood, and iron, spanning multiple periods from the late Phung Nguyen era to the late Dong Son era. Among them, over 10 tonnes of ceramic fragments have been stored for further analysis, while several ceramic burial clusters remain on-site, awaiting detailed study.
Cuong confirmed that this excavation site is one of the largest and the most artifact-rich discoveries since 2021.
Assessing the significance of the excavation, Nguyen Ngoc Quy from the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology said the findings provide comprehensive evidence of human presence in the area of present-day Hanoi. The findings prove the indigenous origins and history of various ethnic groups in Vietnam since prehistoric times, that vividly illustrate the era of ‘Hung King's nation-building’ through archaeological evidence.
Looking ahead, Quy noted that continuing the excavation and in-depth research of the remaining parts of the site promises to yield more important materials for understanding the Bronze Age, not only in Hanoi but potentially beyond.
The excavation team suggested the Hanoi People's Committee and the municipal Department of Culture and Sports soon approve the next phase of the project. It is essential to prevent the loss of valuable cultural heritage and facilitate the recognition of Vuon Chuoi as a city-level relic site, paving the way for its preservation, conservation and promotion.
As the excavation continues, Vuon Chuoi stands as a testament to the rich archaeological heritage of Vietnam, offering a glimpse into the lives and cultures of ancient civilisations and ensuring that their stories are preserved for future generations./.
