Conference on preliminary report on excavation results of Man Bac relic

Delegates visited the excavation of Man Bac relic site.

Attending the conference were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tong Trung Tin, President of the Vietnam Archaeological Association; leaders of the Department of Culture and Sports; representatives of Yen Mo district, Yen Thanh commune and experts and researchers at the central and local levels...

Since 1998, the Man Bac archaeological site has been excavated and studied many times. The research results have shown that this is a residential and burial site with high density and a unique system of relics. The system of relics and relics shows diverse relationships, reflecting the process of adapting to natural exploitation and the colorful mosaic of the late Neolithic - early Metal Age period in Vietnam.

In order to clarify the outstanding values of the Man Bac relic, provide scientific bases for the conservation and promotion of values in the future, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh has coordinated with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to excavate the Man Bac archaeological relic from April 22 to June 24, 2025. Up to now, the excavation at the site has been basically completed, and the adjustment work is being actively implemented.

At the conference, based on the results of previous excavations and this excavation, it can be affirmed that the nature of the relic: Man Bac is a residential-burial relic. Man Bac residents are aware of their own burial grounds, although they are still located next to their residences. The density of burials found is dense in the western area, while the eastern area mainly concentrates on residential vestiges.

The system of relics is diverse and rich with materials such as stone, pottery, bone, and mollusk shells. Among them, one of the important discoveries of this excavation is a combination of tools made from oyster shells, "bich" made from mollusk shells and fragments that may be from nha chuong. The relic complex shows a rich material and spiritual life, and reflects the inter-regional cultural relationships of the ancient Man Bac residents.

Artifacts obtained from the Man Bac archaeological excavation.

From the results of the Man Bac archaeological excavation, the archaeological team proposed to keep the natural landscape around the relic intact, aiming to build an archaeological park of the Man Bac relic; the locations to preserve the stratigraphic relics of the kitchen waste pile and other areas at the excavation pit will serve the work of preserving and promoting values in the future according to the Project "Preserving and promoting the value of the Man Bac archaeological relic and Bo Bat pottery craft" (Yen Thanh commune); it is necessary to build a dossier to rank the Man Bac relic as a national relic. From that basis, appropriate policies and plans will be developed for the preservation and promotion of values; promote analytical research, especially dating analysis with a large enough number of samples to form a chain from early to late at prestigious labs in the world and publish books about the Man Bac relic...

Ly Nhan-Minh Quang

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/hoi-nghi-bao-cao-so-bo-ket-qua-khai-quat-di-tich-man-bac-809983.htm