An excavation site in An Khe Town, Gia Lai province. (Photo: baovanhoa.vn) Gia Lai (VNS/VNA) - Over 1,000 stoneobjects and 600 pieces of meteorite dating back 800,000 years have beenunearthed at archaeological sites in An Khe in the Central Highlands provinceof Gia Lai.
The results of the dig were announced atan international workshop gathering 200 international scholars held at the siteat the end of March.
Over the past five years, archaeologists fromthe Vietnam Archaeology Institute and Russia Science Academy have discovered 24Paleolithic sites, four of which have been excavated, including Go Da, Roc Tung1, Roc Tung 4 and Roc Tung 7.
Russian experts brought the meteorite home andconducted further analysis. They found that the meteorite samples gathered atthe Go Da site (An Binh ward) were around 806,000 years old and samples from RocTung 1 dated back 782,000 years.
Alexander Kandyba, from the NovosibirskArchaeology – Ethnology Institute (under the Russia Science Academy) said fiveyears after they conducted the first excavations in An Khe, scientists discoveredthe objects were similar to those found in Guangxi, China.
“The stone tools found are different to those inEurope,” he said. “This proves our belief that the skill of cutting stoneobjects in An Khe was a domestic development. This area has a special culturalmark in Southeast Asia.”
“Findings at An Khe have created a new directionfor research on the beginning of Vietnamese history, at the same time puttingVietnam on the map of the human development in the early Stone Age,” saidProfessor Nguyen Khac Su, from the Vietnam Archaeology Institute.
According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Secretary ofthe Party Committee of An Khe township, the local authorities would spare noefforts to support concerned agencies to preserve the site and develop tourismas well as serve research purposes in the future.
The unearthed objects have been displayed at AnKhe township’s museum.
“This international workshop aimed to officiallyannounce findings at archaeological sites in An Khe over the past five years,”said Professor Nguyen Gia Doi, Director of the Vietnam Archaeology Institute.
“The institute will take advantage of differentopinions by domestic and international experts to examine the authenticity ofAn Khe history and compile a scientific dossier for the relic to seek Staterecognition as a National Relic Site as well as open other research at thesite,” he said.
Russian researcher Anatony Derevianko suggestedoffering local authorities a vision and strategy to develop archaeologicalvalues.
“With objects unearthed, An Khe can beconsidered one of the most ancient birthplaces of human beings,” he said. “Wewill continue our research here if the two governments agree.”-VNS/VNA
The results of the dig were announced atan international workshop gathering 200 international scholars held at the siteat the end of March.
Over the past five years, archaeologists fromthe Vietnam Archaeology Institute and Russia Science Academy have discovered 24Paleolithic sites, four of which have been excavated, including Go Da, Roc Tung1, Roc Tung 4 and Roc Tung 7.
Russian experts brought the meteorite home andconducted further analysis. They found that the meteorite samples gathered atthe Go Da site (An Binh ward) were around 806,000 years old and samples from RocTung 1 dated back 782,000 years.
Alexander Kandyba, from the NovosibirskArchaeology – Ethnology Institute (under the Russia Science Academy) said fiveyears after they conducted the first excavations in An Khe, scientists discoveredthe objects were similar to those found in Guangxi, China.
“The stone tools found are different to those inEurope,” he said. “This proves our belief that the skill of cutting stoneobjects in An Khe was a domestic development. This area has a special culturalmark in Southeast Asia.”
“Findings at An Khe have created a new directionfor research on the beginning of Vietnamese history, at the same time puttingVietnam on the map of the human development in the early Stone Age,” saidProfessor Nguyen Khac Su, from the Vietnam Archaeology Institute.
According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Secretary ofthe Party Committee of An Khe township, the local authorities would spare noefforts to support concerned agencies to preserve the site and develop tourismas well as serve research purposes in the future.
The unearthed objects have been displayed at AnKhe township’s museum.
“This international workshop aimed to officiallyannounce findings at archaeological sites in An Khe over the past five years,”said Professor Nguyen Gia Doi, Director of the Vietnam Archaeology Institute.
“The institute will take advantage of differentopinions by domestic and international experts to examine the authenticity ofAn Khe history and compile a scientific dossier for the relic to seek Staterecognition as a National Relic Site as well as open other research at thesite,” he said.
Russian researcher Anatony Derevianko suggestedoffering local authorities a vision and strategy to develop archaeologicalvalues.
“With objects unearthed, An Khe can beconsidered one of the most ancient birthplaces of human beings,” he said. “Wewill continue our research here if the two governments agree.”-VNS/VNA
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