Thang Long Citadel

Thang Long Citadel
1
Thang Long Citadel
2
Thang Long Citadel
Architectural systems / Potteries
3
Thang Long Citadel
Artifacts
4
Thang Long Citadel
5
Thang Long Citadel
6
Thang Long Citadel
Ceramics at Thang Long
From: South East Asian Ceramics Newsletter-Jan/Feb 2006
EXCAVATIONS AT THE Thang Long citadel site in Hanoi have uncovered evidence for some imperial blue
and white ceramics in Vietnam. Ceramics specialist and archaeologist Dr. Bui Minh Tri who is Secretary for the
Thang Long Imperial Citadel site showed visitors a bowl decorated with dragons round its exterior walls and
the mark of an imperial princess who occupied part of the site in the 15th century. Almost all the ceramics have
come from one small area of the site, an area where there was once an artificial waterway of some sort.
Unwanted ceramics had apparently been thrown away into the water. The earliest finds are from the late Tang
dynasty, about 9th-10th C. The most numerous are from the Ly (1010-1225) dynasty, but there are fair numbers
from later times as well. The photographs were taken during a visit by a group of conference-goers from the
International Symposium on Geo-Informatics for Historical Studies in Asia (12-14 Nov 2005). Bui Minh Tri is
co-author (with Kerry Nguyen-Long) of Gom Hoa Lam Viet Nam, Vietnamese Blue & WhiteCeramics. Hanoi:
Social Sciences Publishing House, 2001.
Photographs: (1) Area of densest ceramic debris at the site. (2) An unexcavated corridor. (3) Excavated
ceramics from the 11th-12th C. (4) General view of an excavated area. (5) Archaeologist Bui Minh Tri with
Newsletter editor R. M. Brown. Photographs by Caverlee Cary.
7
Thang Long Citadel
Congress of Cultural Atlases: The Human Record
May 7-10, 2004
University of California, Berkeley
Beyond GIS: Mindscapes, VR and Cultural Landscapes
Sunday, May 9, 2004
http://www.ecai.org/activities/congress2004/VR_Hanh_16.html
MAJOR FINDINGS AT THE ROYAL CITADEL SITE OF HANOI, A NEW LIGHT ON THE OLD
CAPITAL'S ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE AND CERAMICS FOR ROYAL USE THROUGH
THE 1,300 YEARS' EXISTENCE OF THE CITADEL
Tran Hanh, National University of Social Science & Humanities, Hanoi
On the site: In January 2003, the National Institute of Archaeology of Vietnam was requested to
conduct a survey at the would-be construction site of the National Assembly House in Hanoi.
Previous study has indicated that the general area could be part of the old Thang Long citadel - capital
of then Dai Viet country through Ly (11-13th century), Tran (13-15th cent.) and Le (15-17th century)
dynasties.
After the first few months, archaeologists have been able to uncover a large-scale architectural relics,
with systematic structures and drainage systems, millions of artifacts including architectural material,
ceramics, household items, etc. The site then recognized to be an important cultural location, and
Vietnamese Goverment endorsed the proposal of Ministry of Culture to relocate the would-be
Assembly House to another place to allow scientists to further research the site and come up with
preservation solutions. Total excavated area: Approximately 18,000 sqm (ever largest excavation
area in Vietnam and South East Asia). The National Archaeologist Institute has proposed to extend
the excavatin to surrounding area of 50,000 sqm due to traces of continued relics.
- Total number of artifacts recovered: Over 4 millions. It is believed that, in order to properly
document and establish scientific record for these artifacts, scientists from the National Archaeology
would have to spend 3 more years! It is the first time traces of a tradional architecture was found with
the floor area up to over 60 sqm (Larger than the Thai Hoa Palace in Hue the latest Imperial Palace in
Vietnam before the French occupation, and that of the Royal Palace in Nara, Japan) It is the first time
some ceramics for royal use were found and recognized in a systematic manner.At the site, there was
a continuous stratum indicating continued occupation of the place through out 1,300 years, from 7 to
19th centuries.
8