The Director of the Lang Son Provincial Museum, Nong Duc Kien, announced that the museum has recently collaborated with the Institute of Archaeology (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) to excavate an archaeological site at Ngườm Sâu Cave (Làng Giang Village, Gia Lộc Commune, Chi Lăng District), uncovering over 900 valuable archaeological artifacts.
The Lang Son Provincial Museum, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology, organized the excavation of the Ngườm Sâu Cave archaeological site in Gia Lộc Commune, Chi Lăng District, Lang Son Province. (Photo: TTXVN).
Initial statistics indicate that the types of artifacts found include: grinding stones, stone tools, sharpened axes, fragments of tools, flakes, Bac Son style marks and raw materials, as well as other stone fragments. The artifacts collected during the excavation have been handed over for preservation at the Chi Lăng Victory Exhibition Hall (Chi Lăng District) and the Lang Son Provincial Museum.
In addition to these artifacts, at two excavation pits in Ngườm Sâu Cave, scientists also discovered a layer of yellow clay containing fossilized bones and teeth of animals. The remains found on the cave ceiling and in the sediment (which consists of materials from geological processes) indicate that this is a rare archaeological site. The discovered artifacts hold significant research value regarding paleogeology, paleobiostratigraphy, and archaeology.
Artifacts obtained from the excavation of the Ngườm Sâu Cave archaeological site in Gia Lộc Commune, Chi Lăng District, Lang Son Province. (Photo: TTXVN).
The Director of the Lang Son Provincial Museum further stated that the museum has advised the Chi Lăng District People’s Committee to explore the possibility of securing additional funding to promptly establish a dossier for provincial heritage ranking in 2023 and to upgrade it to national level in 2024.
Ngườm Sâu Cave has been recognized by the Provincial Museum for its archaeological research value since 1998. In 2000, exploratory excavations were conducted, revealing several valuable archaeological artifacts. However, it was not until the end of July 2023 that a comprehensive and systematic excavation was carried out with the participation of scientists and researchers from the Provincial Museum and the Institute of Archaeology.
Dr. Pham Thanh Son from the Institute of Archaeology, who was directly involved in the excavation of the Ngườm Sâu archaeological site, stated that the excavation has uncovered paleontological remains beneath the Bac Son cultural layer; additionally, a new Bac Son cultural site with good condition and rich potential for cultural tourism has been documented.
According to Dinh Thi Thao, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Chi Lăng District, the department will advise the district’s People’s Committee to submit a proposal to the provincial People’s Committee for consideration of provincial heritage ranking; simultaneously, they aim to develop Ngườm Sâu Cave into an attractive destination within the Lang Son Geopark tourism route.
