An archaeologist checks a jar tomb that was excavated in Quang Ngai Province. The Sa Huynh archaeological site of the Sa Huynh Culture, dating back 2,500-3,000 years ago in the province, was recognised as a National Special Heritage. Photo courtesy of Doan Ngoc Khoi

The Sa Huynh archaeological relics in the central province of Quang Ngai's Duc Pho Town has been recognised as a National Special Heritage by the Prime Minister, highlighting the unique value of ancient Sa Huynh Culture – one of the three civilizations of Vietnam – dating back 2,500 to 3,000 years.

The Government's decision signed on December 29 last year, once again proves the importance of the preservation of culture and heritage in the central coastal provinces, mapping out sustainable development in the near future.

Sa Huynh archaeological site was one of five special national heritages recognised by a decision by the Prime Minister in 2022 – Roc Tung-Go Da archaeological site (Gia Lai Province), the architectural art site of Huong Canh communal house complex (Vinh Phuc Province), the historical relic of King Mai Hac De Temple (Nghe An Province), and the Ap Bac victory monument (Tien Giang Province).

The site, which covers Pho Thanh and Pho Khanh wards in Duc Pho Township, 60km south of Quang Ngai City, was first discovered by French archaeologist M. Vinet in 1909, and hundreds of burial jars were then found in different excavations in the coastal area of Sa Huynh in 1909-1923.

An urn is displayed at the Sa Huynh Culture Exhibition Hall in Duc Pho Town of Quang Ngai Province. About 400 burial jars were found in Sa Huynh between 1909-1923. Photo courtesy of Kieu Nguyen

Bui Van Liem, of the Vietnam Archaeology Institute, said vestiges of the Sa Huynh Culture were found both in the mainland, sea and islands of the central and Central Highlands region, and Quang Ngai was the centre of the Sa Huynh Culture.

He said many antiquities related to tombs of the Sa Huynh Culture had been excavated by Western archaeologists and Vietnamese over 100 years ago when the Sa Huynh Culture was unveiled in 1909.

Nearly 400 funeral urns were found in the area in 1923 alone.

In 1997, five relic sites -- Phu Khuong, Go Ma Vuong (Ma Vuong Hilllock), Thanh Duc, An Khe lagoon, An Khe channel and Champa culture area – in Long Thanh Village of Pho Thanh and Pho Khanh were protected as National Relics.

Pham Thi Ninh, from the Vietnam Association of Archaeology, said at least 2 million fragments of shells and ornaments were excavated from the Ly Son Islands off the coast of Quang Ngai and mainland including Sa Huynh.

About 500 documents, antiquities and fragments from excavations in 1909, 1923 and 1978 are displayed at the exhibition halls in Sa Huynh.

The 3.5km long and 1km wide An Khe Lagoon is believed to have formed during the Flandrian interglacial period from 6,000 to 7,000 years ago.

An Khe Lagoon in Duc Pho Town - 60km south of Quang Ngai City - is included in the newly recognised national special heritage for strict protection. Photo courtesy of Tran Lan Anh

French archaeologists excavated the site to find artefacts from the Sa Huynh Culture in 1909, but the bottom of An Khe Lagoon has not had any archaeological excavation since.

An Khe Lagoon, the new Go Co eco-tour village, Sa Huynh salt fields, and the exhibition centre of antiquities of the Sa Huynh Culture in the area will help build a base for sustainable development on the Sa Huynh Culture complex, including the area that was first excavated by archaeologists more than 100 years ago.

Doan Ngoc Khoi, deputy director of Quang Ngai Museum, said the recognition of the special heritage site would help preserve the lagoon and the Sa Huynh Culture for eco-tours and attract international archaeological researchers.

The Sa Huynh relic site was included in the Ly Son-Sa Huynh Global Geo-Park dossier developed by scientists, conservationists and archaeologists in 2015-2021, earning the UNESCO global geo-park recognition. 

Source: Vietnam News