Close up of the exposed area '3,000-year grain grain' germinated

Thanh Den relic site (Me Linh, Hanoi) has attracted special attention of the scientific community in recent days after the grains of rice found in the soil layer date to 3,000 years of germination.

In the afternoon of May 18, many scientists have come to Thanh Den relic (Tu Lap commune, Me Linh district, Hanoi) so that the district office can find the seeds of germinated seeds. In the photo are Professor Nguyen Lan Cuong (right) and Mr. Nguyen Van Bo, Director of Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (wearing a mortar hat).

Dr. Lam Thi My Dung recounted the excavation process and found grain seeds, antiquities at the cultural floor of Dong Dau, Tien Dong Son (about 4,000 - 2,700 years ago). Observing the scene as well as video tapes, Dr. Dung affirmed that possibilities such as paddy somewhere mixed during excavation, rat holes taken down, or rock that had been disturbed before . were excluded. .

Professor, Academician of the Soviet Academy of Sciences Dao The Tuan - the leading expert on agriculture in Vietnam - attentively observed the burnt grains and burnt rice kept by the excavation team. The germinated grains were transferred to the Agricultural Genetics Institute for cultivation, care and research.

According to Professor Tuan, observing with the naked eye, the seeds found with the shape of the ancient rice varieties: short length, large grain width.

Pottery samples of the Dong Dau cultural layer also imprinted with rice husk found in Thanh Den. According to scientists, finding rice, burnt rice in Thanh Den was recorded and not unexpected. However, with the seeds germinating, there is currently no convincing explanation

In addition, to conclude that these particles have a true lifespan of 3,000, after about 5 months, when they finish a growth cycle, give seeds. At that time, scientists will proceed to solve the gene sequence of the grain, contrasting with the gene sequence of modern rice to determine whether it is ancient rice or not.

Meanwhile, the excavation team continued its work that began in mid-April. Thanh Den remains an area of ​​more than 20,000 square meters, discovered in 1970. According to legend, Thanh Den is also known as the Citadel. Cu Troi, or Trai camp, Thanh Co, was built by Mrs. Trung Nhi to fight against Ma Vien's army. Currently, this site is located in the middle of the rice field of Phu My village (Tu Lap commune).

Thanh Den has undergone 2 inspections, 6 excavations with a total area of ​​about 280 m ² . The seventh is excavating from mid-April 2010 with a total of 3 holes, each 100 m ^{2 wide} . The area of ​​particular interest to archaeologists in the excavation pit is the black pits (kitchen garbage pits), which hold a lot of food ruins such as fish bones and shells .

With the relics and relics found, the scientists identified Thanh Den as both a place to live and a place to manipulate tools with handicrafts such as making stone, pottery, making bone, weaving and knitting. paving and manipulating bronze weapons. In addition, Thanh Den is considered to be the biggest center for metallurgy and bronze casting in our country during the pre-Dong Son period.

Dr. Lam Thi My Dung said, this may be a remnant of a copper casting furnace.

The soil in the pits contains relics that are marked, put separately in each sack to carry out screening.

The workers excavating, screening . are all people in Phu My village. They all got used to it, did it very carefully, and had rules. In addition, experts of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Hanoi Museum are on hand to supervise and guide.

All workers claimed that the germinated seeds were found under archaeological holes. Everyone was surprised and considered "miraculous" because after thousands of years the grains were still so powerful.