VietNamNet Bridge - The products of some kilns in the ancient ceramic village of Chu Dau, in the northern province of Hai Duong, were used in the Thang Long Royal Palace in the early period of the late Le Dynasty, a senior researcher has said.

Professor Bui Minh Tri, director of the Center for Thang Long Royal Citadel Research, said that seven excavation campaigns have been held at the Chu Dau ceramic archaeological site. The last and the largest took place in December 2014.

The excavations show that Chu Dau was once a high-class ceramic producing center in Vietnam from the late 14th century to the late 17th century. Chu Dau products were exported to the international market.

During the seventh excavation, scientists discovered the full appearance of pottery kilns and production techniques.

On an area of 100 square metres, researchers have found many vestiges of Chu Dau pottery kilns. They said these are kilns producing pottery products for household use, with three major genres: celadon glazed, blue glazed and white glazed ceramics.

In particular, celadon-glazed pottery products were the chief ones and were manufactured at a very high technological level, equal to that of the famous Longquan celadon-glazed ceramics in China at the time.

Comparing artifacts found in Chu Dau with those discovered in the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, researchers found similarities and confirmed that Chu Dau pottery was used in the citadel during the Later Le Dynasty early period (15-16th centuries).

Prof. Bui Minh Tri is explaining the burning technique of Chu Dau pottery kilns.

In addition, Chu Dau ceramics were influenced by the decorative styles of the ancient Ngoi ceramic village in Binh Giang, Hai Duong province and blue-glazed ceramics of the Jingdezhen kiln in Jiangxi, China.

Prof. Hoang Van Khoan, a member of the research team, said the latest excavation in Chu Dau has “great value and meaning" because it helps scientists better understand the size, appearance and history of the development of Chu Dau ceramics.

“Also, this is the first time that we can confirm that Chu Dau pottery was used to serve the Thang Long royal palace. The skilled craftsmen here might have been summoned to the palace to serve production," he said.

The Director of the Museum of Hai Duong Province, Vu Dinh Tien, said the Chu Dau archaeological site would be turned into a museum.

T. Van