(HBO) – The Hoa Binh provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistoric Studies to conduct a study of stone carvings on Co Spring in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district. The carvings are linked with the old belief of residents in local mountainous areas in the past, home to many relics of the Hoa Binh Civilisation over 20,000 years ago.
A big stone carving with concentric circles on Co
Spring in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district.
So far, only two rocks with carvings have been
discovered, about 25m apart. Both are granite, relatively big - about 5 cu.m.,
and half-submerged on the eastern bank of Co Spring.
The first rock (Block A) features a relatively
large carving that measures 25 x 35cm. The carving was formed from concave
lines about 1.5cm in width and 0.7cm in depth, clearly showing a paunchy person
with arms up. On the top of the two arms are two concentric circles with dots
at the centre and the outer circles about 6 - 7cm in diameter. Concentric
circles were a popular motif of patterns on bronze objects of the Dong Son
Civilisation.
Located about 20 - 25m from Block A, to the
spring’s upstream part, is a little bigger rock (Block B) that features four
clusters of relatively similar carvings on its flat top. The patterns cover an
area measuring 40 x 60cm. Each cluster includes two concentric circles about 7
- 8cm in diameter atop, and an almost square shape with two concave holes like
two nostrils below.
About 50m from those two objects is another rock
with part of it rising above the ground. The exposed part is 125cm long and
60cm wide and, especially, features nine concave holes which are about 6 - 9cm
in diameter, inspiring the imagination of a fish.
Dr Nguyen Viet, Director of the Centre for
Southeast Asian Prehistoric Studies, said only two rocks with five carving
clusters have been found at the site. Three of the clusters have clear lines
while two others do not. However, their styles are relatively consistent and
have the common theme of animal-like human faces. The concentric circles,
bearing the decoration style of the Dong Son Civilisation, demonstrate eyes,
noses, and mouths in a relatively similar way. The carving on Block A is
particularly important since it is bigger and faces outwards.
Notably, the stone carvings show the
skillfulness of shamans in the past, he noted, adding it is hopeful that more
relics of ancient rituals will be discovered in nearby areas./.
The 10th art festival for the armed forces, youths and students of Hoa Binh province celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Day wrapped up on April 25.
Xoe dance, an unique art form of the Thai ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province has existed for a long time and passed down through generations. Xoe dance is not only a popular dance in the Thai community but also a unique cultural feature, an indispensable part in the Thai ethnic minority people's cultural and spiritual life.
The Bac Son pre-school in Hung Son commune, Kim Boi district is effectively implementing a model of preserving and promoting cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.
Through ups and downs, many unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic minority group are facing risks of falling into oblivion. However, with a strong determination, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province has deployed synchronous solutions to preserve and promote the locality's cultural heritage values.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.
