Prof. Dr. Lam Thi My Dung shared at the conference

The workshop was organized by the Perfume River Ancient Pottery Museum on the occasion of International Museum Day and the 2nd anniversary of the museum’s official opening. Many experts and researchers from many places across the country attended and discussed at the workshop.

Reflects the development of creative thinking

According to Professor Lam Thi My Dung, the invention of pottery represents an important step in the development of human culture and technology, marking the beginning of porcelain making as an essential part of daily life and artistic expression. It can be said that the invention of pottery is the result of independent inventions in many regions of the world , based on the experience of using fire and exploiting resources from previous stages.

In Vietnam, according to many researchers, pottery also appeared quite early, associated with the farming economy , settlement and grinding tools. Previously, pottery was thought to have been used since the Hoa Binh and Bac Son cultures, about 10,000 years ago. However, later research showed that most of the pottery pieces in caves belonging to these cultures may be from a later period, when caves were used to bury the dead or for shelter.

Current archaeological discoveries in Vietnam confirm that there are four earliest pottery areas, located along the coast from North to South, including Cai Beo, Trang An, Da But and Quynh Van. Pottery produced and used in these four areas are all associated with a settled lifestyle in caves or outdoors, an economy exploiting natural resources, especially marine resources. Each area has its own characteristics of pottery in terms of material, type and decoration.

With this invention, Professor Lam Thi My Dung believes that pottery has brought many benefits to human life, including the ability to contain and preserve food, water, and other materials. This helps improve hygiene and food safety, while opening up many opportunities for economic activities and exchanges. The invention of pottery also reflects the development of human creative thinking and technical ability. Pottery not only has practical functions but also has high artistic value, with many diverse patterns and designs, demonstrating the richness in culture and beliefs of prehistoric communities.

“Over time, pottery making techniques have been increasingly improved and developed, from simple hand-molding to the use of specialized wheel and kiln. The development of pottery has contributed significantly to the formation of early civilizations, playing an essential role in the progress of humanity,” added Prof. Dr. Lam Thi My Dung.

Ancient pottery in the Perfume River is a valuable source of material resources.

When talking about pottery, we cannot help but mention the Perfume River flowing through the Hue Citadel. A large amount of pottery salvaged from this river reflects the specific and accurate life of residents throughout historical periods, from when people knew how to make pottery and grow rice thousands of years ago until today.

Ceramic exhibition on the sidelines of the workshop

Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, said that the so-called Huong River pottery actually includes earthenware, ceramics, semi-porcelain, and porcelain with extremely rich varieties: vases, jars, pots, jars, kettles, teapots, bowls, cups, plates, bowls, pedestals, bowls, lids, lime pots, pots, jars, urns, net sinkers, etc.

The appearance of pottery in the Huong River reflects the process of exchange between regions of Vietnam, between Hue and the Central provinces, and the Northern and Southern provinces; and reflects the process of international exchange between Hue residents and many countries: China, Japan, Southeast Asian countries, and even Western countries.

“However, Huong River pottery appeared quite randomly and has only been noticed in the last century through fishing activities and the salvage of antiques, sand and gravel from the riverbed by boatmen and people who make a living from the river. In the early 20th century, pottery and antiques from the Huong River were of interest to some French researchers, but perhaps it was not until the 70s and 80s that they were systematically collected to form some valuable collections,” Mr. Hai shared.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu (Hanoi University of Culture) affirmed that the ancient ceramics salvaged from the Perfume River clearly reflected the development process of Hue through three main stages: the pre-Sa Huynh ceramic group - Sa Huynh from the 2nd millennium BC to the first centuries AD; the Champa ceramic group from the 2nd century to the 14th century; the group of Vietnamese porcelain, ceramics, and glazed ceramics spanning historical periods from the Han Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty and later. In addition, there are many ceramics that are products of cultural exchange, from the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (China), glazed ceramics from Thailand, Hizen ceramics (Japan) and later high-class European ceramics.

According to Dr. Anh Thu's research, based on function, pottery salvaged from the Perfume River can be divided into three main groups: cooking utensils, household utensils and containers. "Ancient pottery from the Perfume River is a valuable source of material resources that helps researchers identify an important part of Hue's historical and cultural values ​​in the context of the historical and cultural flow of Central Vietnam," Dr. Anh Thu concluded.

N. MINH