Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) reports that the "Jiao Yuan" archaeological site, located in Hoai Duc District, Hanoi, was discovered in 1969. It vividly reflects the continuous residence and development of ancient inhabitants in the Thang Long-Hanoi region over nearly four thousand years, spanning multiple cultural stages including Phung Nguyen, Dung Do, Khu Mon, Tien Dong Son, and Hau Dong Son.
Since its discovery, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, in cooperation with the Vietnam Archaeological Research Institute and related professional institutions, has conducted 11 excavations, covering a total area of over 7,500 square meters. The largest excavation, conducted from March 2024 to March 2025 in the western part of the site, covered an area of 6,000 square meters, clearly revealing the ancient inhabitants' living spaces, settlement remains, stone tool workshops, and burial areas.
The excavation results show that "Jiao Yuan" was an ancient Viet village with a clearly defined social organization, possessing a division of labor, a residential system, irrigation ditches, and a rationally laid-out production and living area. These discoveries further confirm the crucial role of the "Banana Garden" inhabitants in conquering and dominating the Red River Delta region, laying the foundation for the formation of the early Vietnamese state.
In 2025, the Hanoi Museum will continue its collaboration with the Archaeological Research Institute of Vietnam and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the National University of Vietnam to organize and analyze the extensive artifacts unearthed in 2024.
Studies on the dwelling features indicate that the ancient inhabitants initially concentrated in high-altitude areas, gradually expanding to lower-lying regions, resulting in stilt houses, longhouses, and a moat system surrounding the village. This is clear evidence of a well-organized and stable community.
Experts also found that during the late Phung Nguyen culture period, approximately 3,500 years ago, the practice of extracting incisors from adults was widespread, possessing social and religious significance. Handicrafts such as jade carving, woodworking, pottery, and bronze casting were highly specialized. The jade production area was located separately at the front of the village, possibly related to ceremonial spaces.
This year's excavation work processed over 15,000 artifacts, including stone, bronze, pottery, wooden, bone, and iron tools, as well as tens of thousands of tons of pottery shards and soil samples containing ancient plant remains. Three categories of precious artifacts stand out: a jade axe-disc combination, symbolizing leadership power, unearthed from a pre-Dong Son period tomb, dating back approximately 3,500 years; a phoenix head ornament, reflecting ancient totemism; and a jade assemblage comprising bracelets, earrings, beads, and ivory scepters, symbolizing the elite class of ancient society.
These new discoveries add valuable historical materials to the study of the development of the Metal Age in northern Vietnam, further highlighting the special historical and cultural value of the "Jiao Yuan" site.
In recognition of its outstanding value, the Hanoi People's Committee issued Decision No. 3134/QĐ-UBND on June 23, 2025, officially designating the "Jiao Yuan" archaeological site as a municipal site. (End)
