On the morning of July 21, 2023, in Viet Tri city, the Vietnam National Museum of History in collaboration with Hung Vuong Museum held the conference to announce the preliminary results of excavation at Go Chon site (located at Tam Nong district, Phu Tho province).
Panoramic photograph of the conference
Participants of the conference included Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of the Vietnam National Museum of History, Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung - Deputy Director of Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Ngo Duc Quy - Director of Hung Vuong Museum, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hong Son - Vice Dean of the Faculty of History (University of Social Sciences and Humanities), representatives of the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and professional staffs of Hung Vuong Museum, representatives of Tam Nong district and Dan Quyen commune authorities, and local press agencies.
Mr. Ngo Duc Quy giving the opening speech of the conference
Delegates visiting and discussing about the objects excavated at Go Chon site
At the conference, on behalf of the excavation team, the team leader - Dr. Truong Dac Chien reported the preliminary results of the excavation of Go Chon site. According to the report, the Go Chon archaeological site is located at Ward 1, Dan Quyen commune, Tam Nong district, Phu Tho province. This site was discovered by archaeologists in the late 1960s, but until now it has been officially excavated for the first time. The excavation was carried out by the Vietnam National Museum of History in collaboration with the Hung Vuong Museum from mid-May to mid-June 2023.
Dr. Truong Dac Chien presenting the excavation results at the conference
During the excavation, archaeologists have opened three excavation units covering nearly 100m2 in the eastern and southwestern areas of the top of the mound. The cultural layer is about 50 - 70cm thick, in the southwestern area. The archaeologists unearthed numerous fragments of daily-life utensils (such as pots, vases, bowls, etc), stone tools, raw materials and pieces of bracelet cores. In addition, archaeologists also discovered a bronze rattle, fragments of bricks, tiles and terracotta towers of the Tran dynasty. Basing on the features and artifacts, archaeologists believe that Go Cho is a long and continuous residence of - ancient inhabitants with a cultural layer of 50-70cm thick, belonging to the middle period of Go Mun culture (3,000-2,800 years ago). The present of round core pieces of bracelets and raw materials suggests that the site may have been a stone jewellery workshop. The architectural materials of the Tran Dynasty show that a Buddhist stupa was built at this site around the 13th -14th centuries. Archaeologists have proposed to protect Go Chon site in particular and other archaeological sites in Phu Tho province in general against the risk of encroachment.
At the conference, the participants contributed many important comments. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Dang Hong Son agreed with the excavation team's assessment, especially the identification of the cultural layer in the southwest area of the top of the mound. At the same time, he proposed to research more about the Buddhist architecture of the Tran Dynasty at this site. Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang - Head of Archeology Department (VNMH) proposed to expand the excavation area to collect more evidence of stone production in the Go Chon site. Mr. Hoang Van Diep (Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) said that the "farmification" activities in the province have caused many relics to be lost forever.
Dr. Nguyen Van Doan giving speech at the conference
Dr. Nguyen Van Doan highly appreciated the efforts of the excavation team and emphasized that the results of the excavation were unexpected. According to the 1968 investigation report, the cultural layer of the site has been destroyed. But the results of this excavation bring new insights and prospects for researching the Go Chon site on a larger scale. He also suggested that it is necessary to promote cooperation between the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, represented by the Hung Vuong Museum, not only in the field of archaeological research, but also in other professional activities such as exhibition, preservation or publication.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung giving speech at the conference
Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung - Deputy Director of Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism highly appreciated the results of the excavation team as well as the opinions of experts and researchers, and directed the specialized divisions of the Department to coordinate with Hung Vuong Museum to urgently submit documents to the provincial leaders on the preservation and promotion of the value of Go Chon site in particular and the province's archaeological sites in general.
EN: Thu Hien