Vietnamese archaeological professors and specialists visit the excavation site of the ancient brick tombs located in Gia Thủy Commune, Nho Quan District in Ninh Bình Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Hải Yến

NINH BÌNH — The two-month excavation of an ancient brick tombs unearthed at Gia Thủy Primary School in the northern province of Ninh Bình has shed new light on its shape, scale and structure, according to Dr Nguyễn Ngọc Quý from the Institute of Archeology.

The results of the excavation were announced at a recent conference held by Ninh Bình Province’s Department of Culture and Sports, attended by specialists from the Institute of Archeology and University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

At the conference, the delegates discussed the historical and cultural values ​​of the relic as well as plans to preserve and promote it.

The excavation of the ancient tombs began in July on a total area of 280sq.m within Gia Thụy Primary School located in Gia Thủy Commune.

The results have provided more scientific information about ancient tombs built in the first A.D. 10 centuries in Việt Nam.

The tomb has rectangular structure with a dome, 8.46m in length divided into three parts. Its wall is made of two layers of bricks, the edges of which are decorated with patterns of different motifs while its bottom is flat.

The previous school yard leveling process had destroyed the entire tomb dome. The excavation also shows that the tomb has been excavated many times as the entire tomb has been disturbed while the ceramic burial items have been scattered.

“The research of its scale and the remaining objects reveals that the tomb belongs to a high-ranking mandarin in contemporary society, which is also a confirmation to the long-standing existence and the development of the land,” Quý said.

In addition, the excavation at Mỹ Hạ Communal House also in Gia Thủy Commune where King Đinh Tiên Hoàng (924-979) and Queen Dương Vân Nga (952-1000) are worshipped has revealed the foundations of an ancient house lying 0.5m deep underground.

The conference also discussed a plan to temporarily re-bury the brick tombs and foundations of Mỹ Hà Communal House to preserve the relics in the ground until there are further plans to promote their values in the future. Meanwhile, the land above could still be used as school grounds and serve the religious needs of the locals at Mỹ Hạ Communal House.

According to Professor Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung, also the director of the Museum of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the excavation of the brick tomb relics and ancient architectural foundations will contribute to clarifying the cultural and historical values, as well as the role of Ninh Bình Province in the first ten centuries, particularly the formation and development of the country Đại Cồ Việt, an independent Vietnamese polity founded in 968 A.D. by the local warlord Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, in the 10th century.

She also suggested that Ninh Bình Province People's Committee should build plans and instructions to preserve and promote the values of the relics. In addition, the ancient brick tomb is located in the school yard of Gia Thủy Commune so it would be an opportunity to educate the students about the history of their hometown by setting up signboards and exhibiting photos. — VNS