The question needs an answer.

VHO - Two ancient boats unearthed and excavated in Bac Ninh have been determined to be nearly 2000 years old (?), quite consistent with the early assessment of Dr. Nguyen Viet. But now that their value is clear, the challenge of preservation becomes even more difficult.

The plan for preserving ancient boats in Bac Ninh remains open.

From the time the ancient boat was unearthed at the bottom of the pond in Bac Ninh until now, one of the biggest concerns of archaeologists and the public alike has been determining its age.

The unique double-hulled boat, considered the most remarkable ever discovered in Vietnam, was built by ancient people during what period, and how long has it been buried under the silt of the Dau River? However, after nearly four months, the agencies involved in the emergency excavation of the ancient boat have yet to publicly announce its age. This is puzzling.

At the "on-site" workshop held at the end of March 2025, many initial opinions leaned towards the idea that the age of these two ancient boats could not have been before the 10th century and could not have appeared after the 15th century, possibly belonging to the Ly or Tran dynasties.

Besides artifacts, historical research, such as the "Viet Su Luoc" (Brief History of Vietnam) which records that in 1106 the king ordered the construction of the " Vinh Long double-hulled ship," and the " Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu" (Complete History of Dai Viet) which clearly states that in 1124, "in the leap month of January, the Tuong Quang double-hulled ship was built," further fuels interesting speculation.

Of course, as Associate Professor Dr. Tong Trung Tin, President of the Vietnam Archaeological Association, emphasized: "Without a date, there is no history," so determining the age using scientific methods is necessary before any further conclusions can be drawn.

After a period of silence, the answer is gradually being revealed. According to Văn Hóa 's own sources, the age of the ancient boat from Bắc Ninh has been determined to be around the 4th-6th centuries AD, approximately 1,800 years ago, which closely coincides with the late Đông Sơn culture period.

Upon receiving this information, we recalled Dr. Nguyen Viet, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Prehistory, who had offered differing opinions from other researchers regarding the age of ancient boats in Bac Ninh. Dr. Nguyen Viet had confidently stated: "This technique of constructing dugout canoes with joined planks only appeared between 2,400 and 1,800 years ago. It was not seen before that, and it has disappeared since then."

“Initially, I also estimated the age of the two ancient boats recently discovered in Thuan Thanh to be from the Ly-Tran period, but after direct inspection and discovering the mortise and tenon system, the technique of joining dugout canoes and planks, I had to admit I was wrong and corrected my mistake right at the workshop, ” Mr. Viet shared with a reporter from Van Hoa newspaper in an interview a few days later.

This issue is reflected in the article "Regarding the discovery of two 'strange' ancient boats in Bac Ninh: What basis is there to claim they belong to the Au Lac period?" (published on March 31, 2025). It should also be added that Dr. Viet's opinion has faced considerable opposition.

All points back to the Dong Son origins.

Returning to the present, after learning about the age of the ancient boat in Bac Ninh, a reporter from Van Hoa newspaper had a conversation with Dr. Nguyen Viet. Still speaking in a calm, gentle, and unhurried tone, he said: “This information only confirms what has already been observed from experimental data: The wooden hull, the mortise and tenon joints, the latch, and the plank joining technique all fall within the late Dong Son timeframe.”

Dr. Nguyen Viet

“Actually, studying ancient boats is not something new to us. We have been conducting in-depth research on ship archaeology for over 10 years. Personally, I have performed radiocarbon dating on more than 20 specimens, with over 30 related artifacts. Therefore, when encountering ancient boats like the one in Bac Ninh, I can immediately recognize their technical characteristics and age , ” Dr. Viet added.

I suggest that the relevant authorities, if they are not yet qualified, should discuss and coordinate to transfer the preservation work to specialized units. This is not just the property of Bac Ninh, but a heritage of Vietnam, and even of humanity. These ancient boats have very high technical and historical value, comparable to the leading examples of ancient shipbuilding technology in East Asia.

(Dr. Nguyen Viet)

For Dr. Nguyen Viet, who has pursued ship archaeology for over two decades, these are the missing "golden piece" in the picture of ancient waterway transportation in the Red River Delta. Unlike the monolithic dugout canoes commonly found in mountainous areas, the two ancient canoes in Bac Ninh were built using the mortise-tenon technique: the hull is assembled from many large planks, joined together by mortise and tenon joints, wooden pegs, and securing straps.

In the ancient world, this technology helped the Romans build warships that could cross the Mediterranean. "But the possibility of a direct Roman influence on the Red River about two thousand years ago is very small," Dr. Viet asserted, adding: "Traces of native wood, buried tree seeds, mortise and tenon joints—all point back to the Dong Son culture."

Incomplete statistics from the Southeast Asian Prehistory Center show that Vietnam currently possesses the largest number of ancient plank-built boats in East Asia, with the earliest dating back to the 4th-5th centuries BC. The ancient boat in Bac Ninh, over 18 meters long, with a pointed bow nearly 2 meters high and a thick reinforced hull, is a "high-level" witness to the final brilliant stage of development of that technique. Given its large size and advanced technology, it was difficult for the common people to own one. So why did this "luxury" boat lie deep beneath the ancient Dau River? Dr. Nguyen Viet offers three hypotheses.

Firstly, these could be military vessels used by local leaders to resist the Eastern Han dynasty's rule, corresponding to the Trung Sisters' rebellion (40-43 AD). Secondly, the boats served religious ceremonies associated with the Buddhist center of Luy Lau, the capital of Giao Chau at that time. Thirdly, they could simply be long-distance merchant ships, evidence of a dense trade network along the Red River, Thai Binh River, and the coast. "To be certain, we need to expand the excavation to find docks, personal belongings, and goods," he said. However, the excavation pit has now been filled with tarpaulin and overgrown with weeds…

Antique boats are not private property.

The silence that lasted for more than three months after the "announcement" workshop left Dr. Nguyen Viet feeling impatient. He recounted: "I stated frankly at the conference: 'Just let me take the boat back to the laboratory and I'll bear the preservation costs myself.' The proposal remains... hanging in the balance." According to him, Vietnam has not yet considered shipwreck archaeology a specialized field; many units are still accustomed to excavating architectural relics and burial sites, so they are struggling with large-scale wooden artifacts.

“I clearly stated this at a professional meeting and emphasized that preserving ancient boats is not difficult; the important thing is to have the right understanding and take timely action. Currently, our Southeast Asian Prehistory Center is preserving more than 200 wooden artifacts and over 20 ancient boats dating back more than 2,000 years, preserved using chemical techniques. Our laboratories are capable of restoring and displaying wooden, textile, and lacquer artifacts… under international standard conditions,” Dr. Viet said.

Looking at the world, since 1968, Norway has successfully rescued the Gokstad shipwreck (9th century), spending 21 years treating it with PEG. The United Kingdom lifted the Mary Rose shipwreck (16th century) from the bottom of the Solent Sea using a 900-ton crane and then sprayed it with PEG for 17 years.

“I suggest that the relevant authorities, if they are not yet qualified, should discuss and coordinate to transfer the preservation work to specialized units. Because this is not just the property of Bac Ninh, but a heritage of Vietnam, even of humanity. These ancient boats have very high technical and historical value, comparable to the leading heritage of ancient shipbuilding in the East Asian region,” he suggested. Ultimately, the ancient boats in Bac Ninh are not just “two large pieces of wood.” They open a window nearly 2000 years into the riverine life of Giao Chau, reflecting the Dong Son culture, evoking memories of the Trung Sisters' naval forces or the Luy Lau trading caravans. The responsibility for preserving this heritage rests in the hands of today's generation. Without appropriate excavation and preservation measures, these ancient boats will sink again…

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/cau-hoi-can-loi-giai-dap-151179.html