Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology in Vietnam initiated excavations to fully uncover the remains of two ancient wooden vessels discovered in the town Thuận Thành. The excavation, covering an area of 300 square meters, began on March 3 and is scheduled to continue until April 3, 2025, according to VietnamNet.
Residents of the area unexpectedly discovered the ships during construction work in late November 2024 while renovating a fish pond spanning over 1,000 square meters. The vessels were found at the bottom of the pond, prompting local authorities to commission further studies to assess their historical importance.
The two vessels are positioned about two meters apart and remain remarkably well-preserved. Preliminary studies indicate that both vessels remain structurally sound. One vessel measures 15 meters long by 2.2 meters wide, while the other measures 14 meters long by 1.6 meters wide.
An interesting feature of the discovery is a wooden bar at the bow that connects the two vessels, suggesting they may have been permanently linked and may have functioned together in the past. Experts believe the vessels could be historic merchant vessels once used for navigating the Đà River. Early assessments suggest they were likely used for transporting goods along the Dau River.
The theory that the boats were merchant vessels is supported by their discovery near a tributary of the Đà River, which flows past the western walls of Luy Lâu Citadel, an ancient capital and trade center.
Given their proximity to these historical sites, archaeologists believe the boats may have once played a role in the vibrant trade and transport network of the region. The boats are located 600 meters northeast of Dau Pagoda and 500 meters from To Pagoda, which honors Buddhist Mother Man Nuong.
"This is a historically and culturally significant discovery. While the boats' exact age remains unknown, if they are dugout canoes, they could date back to an early period in history," said Dr. Phạm Văn Triều, Deputy Head of the Historical Archaeology Department at the Institute of Archaeology and the project's lead researcher.
Archaeologists are analyzing the construction materials to determine the age and type of wood used.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
