Archaeologist Dr. Tong Trung Tin said that the excavation at Kinh Thien Palace, the heart of Thang Long Citadel discovered many objects, including dragon-shaped tiles of the early Le Dynasty (980-1009). 

Archaeologists also found objects dated from Mac Dynasty (which ruled the whole of Dai Viet between 1527 and 1533 and the northern part of the country from 1533 until 1592).

Even after many centuries, the colour of the enamel remains shiny and brilliant.

The excavation has been conducted by the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Preservation Centre and the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology on a total area of nearly 1,000sq.m in the main area of Kinh Thien Palace since 2012. However, it is a small area compared to the scale of the royal citadel. 

Earlier, bricks and tiles dating back to the eighth and ninth centuries, bricks and tiles with dragons, phoenixes, lotus decoration and ceramics during the Ly Dynasty (11th-12th centuries) and the Tran Dynasty (13th-14th centuries) as well as an iron canon of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) were also found at the citadel.

The artefacts reflect various historical and cultural aspects of Thang Long-Hanoi, experts said.

Conducted within a total area of nearly 1,000 sq.m near Kinh Thien Palace, the excavation found a wide range of artifacts of the Dai La, Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties They include vestiges of roads, parterres, ponds, stone foundations, and drainage passages Other relics unearthed include terracotta and pottery items, as well as wood and metal components The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet   The central sector of the citadel was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 31, 2010

Tien Phong/Dtinews/VNA