Local people have accidentally unearthed nearly 100 age-old cannon balls recently at a site located 3 km away from the world-heritage Ho Dynasty Citadel, Vinh Loc district, central Thanh Hoa province.

Buried around 50–70 centimeters beneath the ground, the round shot, which were carefully polished, have diameters ranging from 5-8 centimeters. Most of them were made from limestone, while the rest were from pebble and sandstone.

Ammunition similar to these in terms of materials, shapes, sizes and technique was once excavated at the Ho Dynasty Citadel. A theory believes that all of them, as popular military equipment during the reign of Ho Quy Ly (1398-1407), were used for cannons invented by Ho Nguyen Trung, the King’s first son.

Local people today still tell folk tales about the Ho era’s army base.

The findings are expected to provide important grounds for researchers when it comes to the issues of history and military activities of the Ho dynasty in the national history.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel, located on the two communes of Vinh Tien and Vinh Long, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province, is a unique stone-made architectural work in Vietnam.

Built by Ho Quy Ly in 1397, the citadel was Vietnam’s capital at that time, which was famous for being strategically located and easily defended. It was protected by a mountain range to the north, while the Ma River runs to its west and the Buoi River to its south, creating a huge natural moat.

For more than 600 years of existence, most of the buildings inside the Citadel were destroyed. The traces of the foundations supporting the old palaces still lie hidden under the rice fields.

On June 27, 2011, the Citadel was recognised as a World Heritage Site.

VNA/VNN