The excavation of Lang Ca has just concluded after two months. The discovery of 22 graves from the Hung Kings period affirms that this site was one of the most significant political and economic centers of our nation during its early formation.
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Excavation site at Lang Ca. (Photo: Lao Dong) |
Lang Ca, located in Tho Son Ward, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, is a renowned archaeological site recognized by scholars both domestically and internationally. It lies in a “sacred land” area mentioned in legends, myths, and ancient texts as the location of the ancient capital of Van Lang. Significant excavations took place here in 1976 and 1977, unearthing 314 graves and 307 artifacts, many of which are valuable relics of Dong Son culture.
Consequently, the excavation conducted at the end of 2005 by the Phu Tho Museum and the Vietnam Archaeology Institute attracted considerable attention from provincial leaders and scientists both within and outside the province. During this excavation, the researchers explored 24 trenches of varying sizes. Notably, trenches 20 and 21 were located between the Miwon monosodium glutamate factory and the railway, specifically in the northwestern area of the ancient mound. Trench 20, covering an area of 87 m2, revealed 10 graves that were earth burials from the metal age, with no grave markings found. The burial goods consisted solely of pottery from Dong Son culture, with no stone or bronze items.
In this excavation, in the area of residential houses to the west of the ancient mound, scientists also uncovered a grave from the Northern Dynasty period, revealing a brick grave structure that may represent a “tomb entrance” built with diamond-patterned bricks. This brick grave has a substantial structure, with most of it still underground and located within the boundaries of private property, thus further excavation has yet to be conducted.
The Lang Ca excavation in 2005 has provided valuable scientific data from 22 graves of the metal age, dating similarly to graves from previous excavations, potentially ranging from the second half of the 4th century to the second half of the 2nd century BC, associated with Dong Son culture and relevant to the study of the era of the Hung Kings. Besides the large burial area, Lang Ca also bears traces of habitation from the Dong Son period. This excavation has also uncovered three graves from the independent feudal period, which exhibit burial practices closely resembling those of the Dong Son culture. These graves may date back to the Tran and Later Le dynasties. Additionally, the newly revealed brick grave is estimated to be from around the beginning of the Common Era.
The excavation results indicate that this site is not only a significant burial ground from the Hung Kings period but also a burial site from subsequent eras. This demonstrates that it was a bustling political, economic, and cultural center with continuity: the Hung Kings period – the Northern Dynasty period – the independent feudal period. It is possible that legends and ancient texts referring to a form of capital of the early state during the Hung Kings’ time at the river confluence contain a part of historical truth, with the Lang Ca site becoming a prominent relic for studying this period.
The Lang Ca site has suffered considerable destruction due to previous plans for land clearance to expand the Miwon monosodium glutamate factory. Thankfully, there are still some areas with undisturbed relics, necessitating a comprehensive planning effort for the entire region to preserve what remains for future research.
