Decision to allow the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh province to coordinate with the Institute of Archaeology to conduct expanded archaeological excavations at the Den Citadel Wall site, Chi Phong village, Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.
The excavation time is allowed to take place from June 11, 2025 to September 10, 2025 on an area of 300m2 (10m x 30m) under the chairmanship of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy, Institute of Archaeology.
Allowing expanded archaeological excavation at the Den Citadel Wall site in Ninh Binh province (Photo: Construction Newspaper)
The decision clearly states that during archaeological excavations, licensed agencies must pay attention to protecting the stratigraphy of the relic; are responsible for disseminating information to the people about the protection of local cultural heritage, and not announce official conclusions without the agreement of the competent authority and the Department of Cultural Heritage.
Granting permission for archaeological excavation at the Den Citadel Wall Site, Ninh Binh Province
The artifacts collected during the excavation process, Ninh Binh Provincial Museum, Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Culture and Sports are responsible for preserving and protecting the artifacts to avoid damage or loss and reporting to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism on plans to protect and promote the value of those artifacts.
After the end of the excavation, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh province and the Institute of Archaeology must have a preliminary report and propose a plan for management and protection of the excavated area within 01 (one) month at the latest and a scientific report within 01 (one) year at the latest, sent to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Before announcing the results of the excavation, the licensed agency must discuss and reach an agreement with the Department of Cultural Heritage.
Previously, the Institute of Archaeology (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) sent document No. 201/KCH to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Cultural Heritage requesting permission for expanded archaeological excavation at Thanh Den site (Ninh Binh).
The purpose of the extended excavation is to study the foundation of the wall and moat of Thanh Den Citadel to clarify the construction techniques, methods and dates. To study the function and contribution of Thanh Den Citadel in the overall Hoa Lu Capital.
Pursuant to Decision No. 554/QD-SVHTT dated March 6, 2025 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on archaeological excavation, from March 15, 2026 to May 30, 2025, the Institute of Archaeology in coordination with the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh province will conduct excavation at the Den Citadel Wall site.
The results of the excavation of Thanh Den wall in 2025 continued to confirm the technique of building Hoa Lu citadel wall in the 10th century, along with the excavations at Tuong Dong in 1969, the exploration of Tuong Den in 2018, the emergency excavation of Tuong Dong Bac wall along with this excavation, showing the consistency in the technique of building Hoa Lu citadel. Up to now, it has been possible to clarify that the artificial walls in Hoa Lu were all built on a rather weak, swampy ground, so they all used the technique of spreading tree trunks and reinforcing with wooden bars combined with piles to prevent landslides. The walls were built in a semicircular or almost trapezoidal shape, in which the outer slopes were often steeper than the inner ones.
Technically, after building the wall foundation with a layer of clay mixed with leaves to prevent subsidence; on the surface of the foundation, the ancients arranged two rows of brick walls to help the wall foundation stay straight, the base of the brick wall was lined with boulders to create strength and also to reinforce the wall against landslides. Finally, there was a layer of clay wall covering connecting the two rocky mountain sections. The clay layer to build the wall could have been broken through the ground right from the excavation of the moat outside the relic. Breaking through the ground to build the wall and digging the moat is a traditional technique of traditional Vietnamese citadels that were once present in Co Loa, Luy Lau, La Thanh Thang Long, La Thanh Thanh of the Ho Dynasty, etc.
This mission has fully complied with the steps of the archaeological excavation process. The collected documents have been preserved through photos, drawings, and archaeological descriptions. The archaeological pit has been digitized through 3D scanning to be able to reconstruct the research in the next stages. The excavation results have provided new documents contributing to the study of the citadel wall and the process of building the Hoa Lu citadel wall, and also contributing to a more complete understanding of the Hoa Lu capital under the Dinh - Tien Le dynasties in the 10th century.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/cho-phep-khai-quat-khao-co-mo-rong-tai-dia-diem-tuong-thanh-den-tinh-ninh-binh-20250603145520247.htm
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