A glance at Hoa Binh Civilisation: Stone Age traces at archaeological sites

12/11/2022 - 7:59:08 PM

(HBO) – The Stone Age lasted about 3.4 million years and ended around 8700 - 2000 BC. During this period, stone was widely used to create sharp-edged, pointed or single-sided hammer tools used in hunting and gathering.

Personnel from the Hoa Binh Museum and the Southeast Asian Prehistoric Research Center excavate at the Mai da lang Vanh relic site in Yen Phu commune, Lac Son district.

In 1965, at Tham Khuyen cave, Binh Gia district, Lang Son province, scientists found human teeth lying in red sediment containing bones of animals dating back from the Canh Tan period. These teeth have the characteristics of both human and ape teeth. This is solid evidence of a human-ape existence in Vietnam 300,000 years ago.

In 1984, in Ma Dieu cave, Ha Trung commune, Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province, archaeologists discovered more than 300 Paleolithic artifacts. From 1986 to 1989, thousands of stone artifacts were unearthed. In particular, 10 ancient tombs were found here.

According to Nguyen Viet, Director of the Southeast Asian Prehistoric Research Center, 108 stone artifacts and some animal bones were recovered at the relic of Trai hamlet, Tan Lap commune, Lac Son, in 1980. This was a cultural relic of the Hoabinhian which was rich in culture and artifacts. In May 1981, the Institute of Archaeology unearthed 1,150 artifacts, including stone tools, bones, pottery pieces, and rice grains. In addition, they also discovered an ancient path dating back thousands of years ago. In conclusion, the cave is a permanent residence, and a workshop for making tools of the Hoabinhian inhabitants, revealing a possible existence of a primitive wet rice farming area during the period.

The relic of Mai da lang Vanh in Vanh hamlet, Yen Phu commune, Lac Son, is a cave where a large number of shells were found, with 972 artifacts found in scientists’ related excavations. In 1929, archaeologist M.Colani discovered pieces of eight skulls there. The relic was believed to belong to the Hoabinhian, possibly dating back 17,000 to 8,000 years ago. M. Colani placed the site in the intermediate stage of the civilisation. With significant historical and scientific values, the cave was recognised as a national archaeological relic in 2004. In 2005, the Khai Ha festival of Yen Phu people was restored in association with the relic.

Yen Thuy District: Vibrant emulation movement to build cultured residential areas and families

With an increasingly vibrant and widespread emulation movement aimed at building cultured residential areas and cultured families, Yen Thuy District has been making steady progress toward improving both the material and spiritual well-being of its people, while fostering a civilized, prosperous, beautiful, and progressive community.

The joy of having a cultural house

Once lacking recreational spaces and community facilities, Residential Group 2 in Quynh Lam Ward (Hoa Binh City) has recently received attention for the construction of a new, spacious, and fully equipped cultural house. The project followed the model of state support combined with public contributions in both labor and funding.

Kim Boi: Cultural life building efforts produce fruitful outcomes

The "All people unite to build cultural life" movement, which has been effectively integrated with Kim Boi district’s socio-economic development goals, is fostering a lively spirit of emulation across local residential areas, hamlets, villages, public agencies, and enterprises. In addition, through the initiative, traditional cultural values are being preserved and promoted, while community solidarity and mutual support in poverty reduction and economic development are being strengthened.

Provincial leader inspects construction site of Mo Muong conservation space

A working delegation of the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee led by its Permanent Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Toan on June 11 inspected the progress of a project to build the Mo Muong Cultural Heritage Conservation Space linked to tourism services in Hop Phong commune, Cao Phong district.

A “fire keeper” of Muong culture

Born and growing in the heroic land of Muong Dong, Dinh Thi Kieu Dung, a resident in Bo town of Kim Boi district, in her childhood was nurtured by the sweet lullabies of her grandmother and mother. These melodies deeply imprinted on her soul, becoming an inseparable part of her love for her ethnic group's culture. For over 20 years, this love for her hometown has driven Dung to research, collect, and pass down the cultural values of the Muong people to future generations.

Bringing art to the people in remote and disadvantaged areas

In the final days of May, the Ethnic Art Troupe of Hoa Binh Province organized performances to serve the people in remote, mountainous, and particularly disadvantaged areas within the province. These were not just ordinary artistic shows, but they were the meaningful journeys aimed at spreading cultural values, enhancing the spiritual life of the people and contributing to the preservation of ethnic minority cultural identities.