What new discoveries were made at the Quynh Van archaeological site?

Through the excavation of two pits at the Quynh Van archaeological site in Nghe An province, authorities discovered numerous traces of daily life and human remains from the Neolithic period.

Archaeological excavation pit at the Quynh Van site, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province - Photo: DOAN HOA

On the afternoon of April 29th, the Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Quynh Luu District People's Committee and other relevant units, held a meeting to report on the results of the archaeological excavation at the Quynh Van site.

The excavation of the Quynh Van site, conducted from March 18 to 29 by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in collaboration with the Nghe An Museum and the Australian National University, is a continuation of a series of research activities within the framework of the international project "The Missing Millennium and the Origins of Agriculture in Southeast Asia".

The results of the 2025 excavation aim to supplement important archaeological data for the Quynh Van culture, a Neolithic culture dating from approximately 6,000 to 4,000 years ago.

The excavation team opened three excavation pits, using stratigraphic methods to uncover archaeological sedimentary layers, reflecting the living activities of ancient inhabitants.

Some artifacts, including stone tools, were discovered at the Quynh Van archaeological site - Photo: DOAN HOA

Jewelry made from mollusk shells - Photo: DOAN HOA

At pit 1, excavating to a depth of 3.2m into the subsoil layer, the team discovered numerous traces of daily life such as post holes, primitive hearths, and food remnants, along with artifacts including stone tools, pottery fragments, and hundreds of burnt stones.

At pit 2, although excavated to a depth of just over 2 meters, significant discoveries were made regarding burial sites, with 6 tombs and 8 remains, recording burial practices characterized by the seated, knee-bent posture typical of the Da But culture and other Neolithic cultures in the region.

Some burial sites show signs of reburial, or multiple bodies being buried on top of each other, indicating complex burial rituals.

The excavation team also collected more than 1,000 charcoal, phytolith, and soil samples for detailed research and dating in Australia.

The excavation results not only contribute to clarifying the adaptation process of the ancient inhabitants of Quynh Van to the natural environment, but also open up prospects for further research on the relationship between residential areas and burial areas in Neolithic societies.

In the coming period, the team will continue to excavate deeper at pits 2 and 3 to serve these research objectives, and at the same time supplement the scientific basis for the conservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Nghe An.

Many layers of seashells at the Quynh Van archaeological site - Photo: DOAN HOA

The Quynh Van culture belongs to the late Neolithic period and is distributed in the coastal plains of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

The archaeological sites typically consist of scallop mounds 5-6 meters thick, located 1-10 km from the sea, situated on a narrow plain sandwiched between low hills and the East Sea. This culture was first discovered by French scholars in 1930 in the Cau Giat area, Quynh Luu district.

Through numerous surveys and excavations in 1963, 1976, and 1979, authorities identified 21 related sites, mostly concentrated in Quynh Luu district.

The habitation remains, including hearths, burial sites, stone tools, bone artifacts, pottery fragments, and numerous mollusk shells, suggest a lifestyle closely linked to the sea and the hunting and gathering activities of prehistoric inhabitants.

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DOAN HOA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khai-quat-di-chi-quynh-van-phat-hien-moi-nhung-gi-20250429173245819.htm