Ninh Binh (VNS/VNA) - The two-month excavation of an ancient brick tombs unearthed at Gia ThuyPrimary School in the northern province of Ninh Binh has shed new light on itsshape, scale and structure, according to Dr Nguyen Ngoc Quy from the Instituteof Archeology.

The results of the excavationwere announced at a recent conference held by Ninh Bình province’s Departmentof Culture and Sports, attended by specialists from the Institute of Archeologyand University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

At the conference, thedelegates discussed the historical and cultural values of the relic as wellas plans to preserve and promote it.

The excavation of the ancienttombs began in July on a total area of 280sq.m within Gia Thuy Primary Schoollocated in Gia Thuy commune.

The results have provided morescientific information about ancient tombs built in the first A.D. 10 centuriesin Vietnam.

The tomb has rectangularstructure with a dome, 8.46m in length divided into three parts. Its wall ismade of two layers of bricks, the edges of which are decorated with patterns ofdifferent motifs while its bottom is flat.

The previous school yard levelingprocess had destroyed the entire tomb dome. The excavation also shows that thetomb has been excavated many times as the entire tomb has been disturbed whilethe ceramic burial items have been scattered.

“The research of its scale andthe remaining objects reveals that the tomb belongs to a high-ranking mandarinin contemporary society, which is also a confirmation to the long-standingexistence and the development of the land,” Quy said.

In addition, the excavation atMy Ha Communal House also in Gia Thuy commune where King Dinh Tien Hoang(924-979) and Queen Duong Van Nga (952-1000) are worshipped has revealed thefoundations of an ancient house lying 0.5m deep underground.

The conference also discussed aplan to temporarily re-bury the brick tombs and foundations of My Ha CommunalHouse to preserve the relics in the ground until there are further plans topromote their values in the future. Meanwhile, the land above could still beused as school grounds and serve the religious needs of the locals at My Ha Communal House.

According to Professor Lam Thi My Dung, also the director of the Museum of Anthropology, University of SocialSciences and Humanities, the excavation of the brick tomb relics and ancientarchitectural foundations will contribute to clarifying the cultural andhistorical values, as well as the role of Ninh Binh province in the first tencenturies, particularly the formation and development of the country Dai Co Viet, an independent Vietnamese polity founded in 968 A.D. by the local hero Dinh Bo Linh, in the 10th century.

She also suggested NinhBinh provincial People's Committee build plans and instructions topreserve and promote the values of the relics. In addition, the ancient bricktomb is located in the school yard of Gia Thuy commune so it would be anopportunity to educate the students about the history of their hometown bysetting up signboards and exhibiting photos./.