(HBO)- On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the world recognition of the "Hoa Binh Culture”, Hoa Binh province will organise numerous activities to popularise and honour the unique archaeological values of the world-renowned Stone Age culture in the province. Hoa Binh Online reporters had a talk with Buil Ngoc Lam, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and head of the organising board for commemoration activities.


Provincial museum staff arrange artefacts for an exhibition on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of world recognition of "Hoa Binh Culture”

 Reporter: Could you give a general introduction about the "Hoa Binh Culture”?

 Mr. Bui Ngoc Lam: The term "Hoa Binh Culture” is used with two meanings, one of which is the culture of all ethnic groups in Hoa Binh, and the other is the archaeological culture.

 Here we are talking about the archaeological culture which dates back to the Stone Age, from 3,500-7,000 years ago.

 The Hoa Binh Culture was first discovered and studied by French woman archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the years from 1926-1931. She also coined the term Hoa Binh Culture. In 1932, at the first conference on the prehistory in the Far East held in Hanoi, world archaeologists agreed to adopt this term.

 However, the Hoa Binh Culture existed not only in Vietnam. In fact, it covered a large area in Southeast Asia, but Vietnam was the place with the most relics of the culture, so many foreign scientists considered the country as the birthplace of Hoa Binh Culture. In Vietnam, Hoa Binh province is the place where the first relic of Hoa Binh Culture was found, and it is also home to the most relics discovered so far, that is why the province’s name was used to call the culture.

 Reporter: On the 85th anniversary of world recognition of "Hoa Binh Culture”, the province will organise many commemorative activities. Could you please tell us about the meaning and significance of the anniversary?

 Mr. Bui Ngoc Lam: Among commemorative events there will be an exhibition on the Hoa Binh Culture, which will last through December. The provincial library will host a display of books on the Hoa Binh archaeological culture and the cultures of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh province. At the provincial cultural palace, there will be a display of photos selected during the Hoa Binh tourism photo contest in 2017. A scientific seminar on Hoa Binh Culture will also be held here, along with an art performance and a demonstration of Mo Muong.

 Activities to celebrate the 85th anniversary of world recognition of "Hoa Binh Culture” are intended to popularise and honour the unique archaeological values of the world-renowned Stone Age culture in Hoa Binh; honour the great contributions of the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani who discovered and named the culture. The activities also aim to foster the pride about the ethnic groups in the province – the cradle of the Hoa Binh Culture and one of the cradles of human kinds’ civilisation, and teach young generations about the local traditions.

 Reporter: Thank you very much.

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