The Vuon Chuoi archaeological site and the lessons learned...

VHO - Yesterday afternoon, November 9th, the Hanoi Museum and related units held a ceremony to present the City-level Archaeological Site Certificate for Vuon Chuoi to representatives of the Hoai Duc commune government, in the presence of many experts, researchers, and numerous journalists and media representatives, especially with the presence of residents of Lai Xa village, where the Vuon Chuoi site is located.

After an extremely difficult journey, at times seemingly on the verge of being wiped out if not for the decisive intervention of experts, researchers, and the press, the Vuon Chuoi archaeological site has now been legally "identified"; its " sovereignty " affirmed by protected, inviolable areas, so that in the future, the typical and rare values ​​from thousands of years of history will be fully utilized.

The Vuon Chuoi archaeological site has undergone 11 explorations and excavations since its discovery 56 years ago, with varying scales and areas. Experts unanimously agree that it is one of the most representative and valuable archaeological sites of the Bronze Age in Northern Vietnam; and an ancient village in the capital city, a land of thousand-year-old culture, that developed continuously through many important cultural periods, from about 4,000 years ago to the 1st-2nd centuries AD.

Despite possessing such outstanding historical, cultural, national, and archaeological value, decades ago, the lack of attention and lax management by relevant authorities and local governments led to the Vuon Chuoi archaeological site being partly forgotten and partly severely encroached upon. The site seemed to be outside the legal framework. Then, 15 years ago, the Vuon Chuoi site faced the risk of being completely erased when it was included in an urban residential area plan. In 2017, when Hanoi approved the construction project of Ring Road 3.5, the Vuon Chuoi site was again divided in two...

Without the fierce protection of experts and researchers through urgent petitions, the unanimous "cry for help" from the press and media, and especially the increased awareness of relevant authorities and local governments, the Vuon Chuoi archaeological site would have been "killed off." Now, however, the Vuon Chuoi site has been clearly identified within the legal framework, specifically the regulations of the law on cultural heritage.

The story of the Vuon Chuoi archaeological site offers several valuable lessons. First and foremost, the cultural heritage left by our ancestors needs to be valued and treated with respect, requiring measures to protect, preserve, and promote its value. Once its historical, cultural, and scientific value is relatively fully recognized, relevant authorities and local governments should collaborate with experts to assess, evaluate, and carry out the necessary procedures for classification, ensuring the site is protected by legal means.

During the planning process for transportation and urban infrastructure, consulting firms and relevant authorities need to conduct investigations and surveys of the current situation, coordinating with experts, researchers, and managers to develop measures that enhance the value of the nation's cultural heritage and minimize any impact on the integrity of historical sites and heritage. Finally, we must fully enforce the laws and regulations concerning cultural heritage, preventing situations where cultural heritage is "compromised" for infrastructure and urban development projects.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/di-chi-vuon-chuoi-and-bai-hoc-180434.html