Holding unique values representing the world-famous Hoa Binh Civilisation, the archaeological sites of Trai Hamlet Cave and Vanh Village Stone Shelter in Lac Son district were recognised as special national relic sites in July.

Trai Hamlet Cave is located on a separate limestone mountain, 15m above a nearby valley. It is more than 13m deep and has an entrance 8m wide and 10m high. It contains food traces of early humans, mainly stream and mountain snails. Statistics show that there are more than 30,000 shells per cubic metre of sediment inside this cave. Archaeologists have found a substantial number of animal bone pieces here. Analyses indicate that these are bones of animals living in the surrounding environment that early humans caught for food. Rice husks and some half-burned grains have also been discovered at a depth of 0 - 80cm underground, and they could belong to later periods. This cave was listed as a national historical relic site in 2001.

Not far from Trai Hamlet Cave, Vanh Village Stone Shelter is located at the foot of Da Trang (White Stone) Mountain in Vanh village of Yen Phu commune. It is a relatively large stone shelter which is 18m deep and has a 30m-wide entrance. It is about 5m higher than the surrounding valley. The site was discovered and excavated by M. Colani in 1929 and also named by the French archaeologist. Excavations at this place have revealed a 3.7m-thick cultural layer that contains mainly snails, clay, ashes, and mollusc shells. Stone objects, human and animal bone pieces, horns, ceramic items, stoves, and snail shells have also been found here. The shelter was named a national historical relic site in 2003.

Given their precious values, the two national archaeological relic sites were recognised as special ones on July 18, 2024.

Bui Van Hung, head of the culture and information division of Lac Son district, said that home to the two archaeological relic sites typical for the prehistoric Hoa Binh Civilisation, Lac Son has continually paid attention to the management, protection, preservation, and promotion of the sites’ values. It is stepping up communications about the places’ significance and values among the entire local population so as to attract the public’s support for protecting the surrounding landscape and environment. Tourism, learning, and scientific research activities connected with the sites are also being promoted.

In the time ahead, to bring into full play the values of these two special national relic sites, local authorities will continue to seriously carry out management and protection activities in line with the Law on Cultural Heritage, devise appropriate policies to encourage and create conditions for people and businesses to engage in relic protection and tourism development, and build new roads to connect arteries with the two sites.

Additionally, the district will propose relic management and rehabilitation measures to higher-level authorities in an effort to become a destination on the tourism maps of Hoa Binh province, the region, and the country, he added.