Found primitive human relics

During the recent survey of the Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoir, scientists from the Vietnam Institute of Archeology and Ha Giang Provincial Museum have found the residence of primitive people in Khuoi Noi Cave.

Khuoi Noi Cave is a large cave located on the tourist route of the lake in Tuyen Quang hydropower plant, located in Khuoi Noi village, Thuong Tan commune, Bac Me district, Ha Giang. The cave is located on a height of 7m above the highest water level of the lake.

From the treasure story of the ancients

In the late 20th century, in the limestone forest area south of Bac Me district, Ha Giang, the story of an ancient "warehouse" buried in a mysterious cave was raised. The echo of the story of 'treasures' caused most caves in the south of Bac Me district, including Khuoi Noi cave, to be explored. There are a number of locals while digging and searching in Khuoi Noi cave to discover some smooth and beautiful grinding stone tools. Then, the hydroelectric reservoir rises, causing the landscape to change, people gradually forget the story of 'treasure'.

Recently, during the survey of tourist routes of Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoir, Vietnam Institute of Archeology and Ha Giang Provincial Museum, surveyed this place. Archaeologists said that the remains of prehistoric people were found everywhere in the cave, but the main residence was concentrated in the area near the cave entrance.

The survey team conducted a digging hole of 2 m2 wide area near the middle of the cave. The excavation results show that the Khuoi Noi culture layer is from 60 to 70 cm thick, about 10cm deep compared to the current surface, divided into 2 layers, showing two different stages of cultural development, created by Light gray clay soil interspersed with rubble and many snail shells, animal teeth and archaeological remains.

Stone tools found in Khuoi Nien.Photo: provided by Vietnam Institute of Archeology .

Archaeologists have collected more than 40 archaeological relics, mainly stone relics, working tools: hands to dig soil; axes, knives for cutting and beating; scraping tool, pestle crusher, stripping piece. The outstanding feature of the early cultural class collection has the basic characteristics of the late Hoa Binh cultural tool in the northern mountainous region of our country, and has found the ax with the original role. In the late culture class (located above), a full-blown ax was discovered, belonging to the new Stone Age. This is convincing evidence of revolutionary innovation in original technology, from rough chisels to grinding techniques.

The presence of the piece depicts the process of manipulating in-place tools of the ancients. Crushed and crushed pestles are vivid evidence of processing, processing food from flowers, fruits and tubers of ancient residents here. A large number of snail shells found with tail-docked traces indicate that they are an important part of the ancient people's food source. Animal bones are mainly small animals, not fossilized. Traces of ash found quite a bit in the cultural floor. Archaeologists have not found pottery in the cultural floors.

Make a record of ranking national monuments

Associate Prof. Dr. Nang Nang Chung - Head of the survey team said: Based on the results of the overall study of archaeological relics, at the level of sediment, it can be assumed that Khuoi Noi is a place of residence of many generations. Cistercian. The earliest resident class of the Hoa Binh - Bac Son cultural system, dating back about 6,000 - 7,000 years. The late residence class dates back about 4,000 years.

Prof. Dr. Nang Nang Chung is surveying the cultural strata of Khuoi Noi cave.Photo: provided by Vietnam Institute of Archeology.

This is an important archaeological site, contributing new insights into prehistoric research in Ha Giang and Vietnam in general. Especially the cave is located on the tourist route of Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoir. With high historical and cultural values, Khuoi Noi cave has great economic and cultural values ​​that need to be exploited.

Currently, the work of thoroughly studying relics is still underway, this site is expected to be excavated in the future. An official from Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that after excavation, Khuoi Noi Cave will be documented to rank at the national level and can become a famous tourist destination of the province. .