Continuing our journey to explore the prehistoric culture of the Central Highlands.

VHO - On April 16th, the Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong had signed Decision No. 1067/QD-BVHTTDL, authorizing the fourth archaeological excavation at the Thac Hai site, located in Hamlet 6, Ia Jloi Commune, Ea Sup District, Dak Lak Province.

This decision marks the next step in the effort to research, preserve, and promote the value of one of the most representative prehistoric archaeological sites in the Central Highlands region.  

According to the decision, this archaeological excavation will take place from May 5th to June 26th, with a total excavation area of ​​50m², divided into two pits, each 25m² in size. The lead excavation unit is the Dak Lak Provincial Museum.

Artifacts recovered during the excavation must be carefully preserved and protected to prevent damage or loss. After the excavation is completed, the Dak Lak Museum is responsible for reporting the results to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and proposing a plan for protecting and promoting the value of the archaeological site.

This is the fourth time the Thac Hai archaeological site has been officially excavated since the first time in 2021.

Previous excavations in 2021, 2022, and 2024 yielded impressive results, contributing to clarifying the prehistoric cultural landscape in the Central Highlands border region and affirming the important position of Thac Hai in the national archaeological site system.

The Thac Hai archaeological site was first discovered in early 2020 during a scientific survey conducted by the Dak Lak Provincial Museum in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology. The site is located along the Thac Hai stream, in the Ea Sup area – a region that retains many pristine features and is relatively untouched by urbanization.

From its initial discovery, Thac Hai has been highly regarded by researchers for its unique characteristics. Unlike many purely residential sites, Thac Hai is a workshop site – a place where prehistoric humans organized large-scale production of stone tools.

In previous excavations, archaeologists have collected thousands of artifacts, most notably hundreds of finely crafted stone drills, demonstrating a high level of technical skill and evidence of the division of labor in ancient society.

A remarkable discovery at this site is the presence of traces of a rudimentary glass furnace and fragments of glass artifacts – something never before seen at similar sites in Vietnam.  

Prior to this, in January 2023, the Prime Minister signed a decision recognizing the "Thac Hai Stone Drill Bit Collection" as a National Treasure. This is one of the important milestones, not only acknowledging the special historical and cultural value of the collection but also making the Thac Hai site a highlight on the archaeological map of Vietnam.

Experts believe that the rock drills at Thac Hai not only have technical value in terms of craftsmanship but also clearly reflect the working life, beliefs, and social organization of prehistoric and early historical inhabitants in the Central Highlands.

A rock drill bit was discovered at the Thac Hai archaeological site.

The simultaneous appearance of stone tools and traces related to glass also gives rise to many hypotheses about cultural and technological exchange between ancient settlements.

Along with excavation work, the preservation and promotion of the value of the Thac Hai archaeological site is also receiving special attention from the authorities at all levels in Dak Lak province.

The Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is collaborating with researchers to develop a project to transform the archaeological site into an educational and tourism destination, aiming to serve students and tourists interested in learning about the history and prehistoric culture of the Central Highlands.

In addition, the Dak Lak Provincial Museum is also finalizing the documentation for a thematic exhibition on "Thac Hai Site and the Excavation Journey," with the goal of widely introducing archaeological discoveries to the public both domestically and internationally.

According to the Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hai Waterfall is not just a simple archaeological site, but a symbol of the journey to rediscover the origins of the Central Highlands people. Through subsequent excavations, more scientific evidence will be found to shed light on the lives of ancient people, thereby contributing to fostering pride and awareness of protecting cultural heritage within the community.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/tiep-noi-hanh-trinh-kham-pha-nen-van-hoa-tien-su-tay-nguyen-128112.html