Lac Son celebrates provincial relic recognition for ancient rock carvings at Suoi Co

5/7/2025 - 6:03:28 PM

The People’s Committee of Lac Son district held a ceremony on April 28 to receive the provincial relic certificate for the ancient rock carving site at Suoi Co stream, located in My Thanh commune.

A representative from the Hoa Binh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism presents the provincial-level relic site certificate for the ancient rock engravings at Suoi Co in My Thanh commune to authorities of Lac Son district.

A musical performance staged at the ceremony.

The site is of significant historical and archaeological value, featuring two stone blocks with ancient carvings, which experts found to have dated back approximately 2,000 years, to the prehistoric and protohistoric periods. In addition, the site also hosts annual cultural and spiritual rituals.

Despite the passage of time and historical upheavals, the site has retained and preserved the rock engravings created by early inhabitants, reflecting humanity’s adaptation to and transformation of the natural environment. From an archaeological perspective, the carvings are among the few remaining prehistoric-protohistoric artworks that show the artistic and technical sophistication of ancient stone carvings. They provide objective and authentic ethnological and historical evidence, reflecting the beliefs, material and spiritual life, and intellectual development of an early community in what is now the core area of Hoa Binh province – a region rich in vestiges of the famed Hoa Binh Civilisation.

Recognising its historical, cultural, scientific, and tourism values, the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee officially designated the site as a provincial-level archaeological relic one under Decision No. 2628/QD-UBND, dated December 2, 2024.

The ceremony was held to honour the site’s cultural heritage, encourage local authorities and residents to continue protecting and promoting its value, and attract visitors.

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