Excavation of an ancient altar over 600 years old belonging to Vietnam's shortest dynasty.

(NLĐO) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just authorized the comprehensive excavation of an ancient 600-year-old sacrificial altar at Ho Citadel, built during the Ho Dynasty, the shortest dynasty in Vietnamese history.

On November 11th, in an interview with the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper , Mr. Trinh Huu Anh, Deputy Director of the Ho Citadel Heritage Conservation Center (Tay Do commune, Thanh Hoa province), stated that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT-DL) has issued a decision allowing the center to coordinate archaeological excavations at the Nam Giao Altar - an ancient altar more than 600 years old within the Ho Citadel World Heritage site.

Nam Giao Altar - an ancient altar over 600 years old located in Ho Dynasty Citadel.

According to Mr. Trinh Huu Anh, the center will coordinate with the Institute of Archaeology to conduct excavations on an area of ​​9,909 m2, including 94 trenches in two areas, foundation 4 and foundation 5 - locations considered crucial in the overall architecture of the Nam Giao Altar. The excavation will take place from the end of 2025 to July 2026.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requires that during the excavation process, authorized units must protect the original state of the stratigraphy, artifacts, and the excavation site; and at the same time, develop a plan and schedule consistent with the approved objectives and solutions. Discovered artifacts will be protected on-site, scientifically organized, and reported to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consideration of preservation options. If long-term preservation is necessary, they will be temporarily placed in a local public museum.

"The expanded comprehensive excavation of the Nam Giao Altar area is expected to provide further scientific evidence, contributing to the overall reconstruction of the Ho Dynasty's ritual of worshipping heaven, an important ceremony," said Mr. Huu Anh.

The King's Well, one of the important artifacts discovered at the Nam Giao Altar.

The sacrificial altar is located in the former Cao Mat commune, now part of Vinh Loc commune, Thanh Hoa province, about 2.5 km southeast of Ho Dynasty Citadel (Tay Do commune), and about 45 km northwest of Hac Thanh ward (the center of Thanh Hoa province) along National Highway 45.

The Nam Giao Altar was first excavated in 2004. To date, scientists have conducted four more exploratory excavations covering a total area of ​​18,000 m2, initially identifying the architectural characteristics of the Nam Giao Altar: its back rests against Don Son mountain, its front faces the Nam Giao field, and its structure consists of five rectangular platforms facing south – reflecting the ancient concept of "round sky, square earth."

In 1990, the complex of historical and cultural relics including the Tran Khat Chan temple, Giang Pagoda (Tuong Van Tu), Gio Pagoda (Nhan Lo), and the Nam Giao Altar was recognized as a provincial-level relic. In October 2007, the Nam Giao Altar was recognized as a national-level archaeological site.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel, a World Heritage site, is located in Tay Do commune, Thanh Hoa province.

According to the Ho Citadel World Heritage Conservation Center, this excavation not only has scientific and cultural significance, but also concretizes the strategic commitment between the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee and UNESCO in the conservation and promotion of the value of the Ho Citadel World Heritage Site.

According to documents from the Ho Dynasty World Heritage Conservation Center, in the year Canh Thin (1400), after ascending the throne, Ho Quy Ly established the Ho Dynasty with the capital at Tay Do (also called Tay Giai) to distinguish it from Dong Do (Thang Long, Hanoi). After two years on the throne, Ho Quy Ly abdicated in favor of his second son, Ho Han Thuong (in 1402). Immediately upon ascending the throne, this king ordered his officials to build the Nam Giao sacrificial altar.

Every year, the Ho Dynasty held ceremonies to worship heaven and earth, praying for national peace and prosperity, or on occasions of general amnesty, at the Nam Giao altar. The word "Giao" means the ceremony of worshipping heaven in the south of the capital city; this ceremony is often called the Nam Giao ceremony, and the place where it is performed is called the Nam Giao altar.

However, after only 7 years of existence (1400-1407), the Ho Dynasty collapsed when Ho Quy Ly and Ho Han Thuong were captured by the Ming invaders in 1407. Despite having the shortest reign in Vietnamese feudal history, the Ho Dynasty left behind a massive and unique stone citadel, the most remarkable in Southeast Asia. In 2011, this unique stone citadel was recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/khai-quat-dan-te-co-hon-600-nam-cua-trieu-dai-ngan-nhat-viet-nam-196251111092548025.htm