(HBO) - On December 20, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a conference to announce the preliminary results of archaeological excavations of the two national-level relics, the stone roof of Vanh village in Yen Phu commune and the cave in Trai village in Tan Lap commune (Lac Son). There was attendance of the leaders from the Institute of Archeology, the Center of Prehistory of Southeast Asia, the People's Committee of Lac Son district and the People's Committee of Tan Lap and Yen Phu communes.
Dr. Nguyen Viet, the Director of the Southeast Asian Prehistory Center reported the results of archaeological excavations of the 2 national relics in Trai village and the stone roof of Vanh village (Lac Son).
Implementing Decision No. 1052, dated on May 6, 2022 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on archaeological excavations, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Provincial Museum have collaborated with the Institute of Archeology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Southeast Asian Prehistory Center to excavate the relics at the national-level relic of the stone roof of Vanh village in Vanh hamlet, Yen Phu commune and the national archaeological site of Trai village in Tan Lap commune (Lac Son). Up to now, the archaeological excavation of the 2 national relics has been completed. The excavation results are a new source of material, contributing to enriching the content of Hoa Binh Culture, making the practical contributions to the work of celebrating the 90th anniversary of its establishment, researching Hoa Binh Culture in Vietnam, honoring the value of cultural heritage, showing gratitude to the French archaeologist, Madeilen Colani, and many generations of the prehistoric researchers, the cultural managers at home and abroad.
The national archaeological relic, the stone roof of Vanh village, the excavation period is from May 15 to October 15, 2022, excavating 4 exploration pits and 1 excavation pit with an area of 39 m2. They have discovered the trace of some fire stoves, the clusters of animal bones and clusters of boulders that may be related to prehistoric people's place for tool-making or food-processing in the stone roof of Vanh village; They did not detect the traces of relics in the pits outside the cave. In the excavation and exploration pits, a large number of relics have been obtained, mainly the stone, bone, pottery and molluscs items; There are 7 more absolute dates for the stone roof relic of Vanh village, after having the results of the correction of the tree ring, it will have the earliest absolute age in this relic up to 25 million years ago from today.
The national archaeological relic in Trai hamlet with excavation period from May 15 to October 15, 2022, excavated 4 pits with a total area of 37 m2. The excavation of the remains of the cultural layer in the village of Trai in the pits H2 and H3, determining the disturbance, the extent of the remaining intact; excavating pits H1 and TS1 outside the adjacent Trai hamlet; obtaining a group of fire stove relics, the millet stone blocks/the blocks used for making stone tools, bones and they are most likely related to the prehistoric man's food processing activities; collecting a large number of samples for the analysis of the absolute dating, petrology, spores and pollen...; collecting a large number of relics, mainly stone, bone and little pottery; there is 1 more absolute date for the cave in Trai village.
At the conference, the delegates proposed and recommended a number of issues such as continuing to carry out research and excavation by micro-document method in order to take samples for analysis of new absolute dating for 2 archaeological sites; developing the registration dossiers for the special national heritage ranking for the 2 relics.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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