Hypothesis of the life of

"In the area where rice seeds are kept mixed with a lot of ash, burnt rice . It is possible that this environment has created an absolute anaerobic conditions that make seeds retain vitality after thousands of years", Professor Dao Thế Tuấn hypothesizes.

After believing that the relics of Thanh Den discovered grain grains in Dong Dau culture sprouted, in the afternoon of May 18, many experts came here. Among them is Professor Dao The Tuan (former Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union); Mr. Nguyen Van Bo, Director of Vietnam Agricultural Science; Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Lan Cuong, Deputy Secretary General of Vietnam Archeology Association and experts from Hanoi National University.

Paying attention to where the grains of rice were discovered, Mr. Dao The Tuan, the leading professor in the agricultural field in Vietnam, said that these grains have a short shape, wide width and not as elongated as heat rice. zone. This is also the shape of the oldest types of rice in Vietnam such as upland rice and sticky rice.

Dr. Lam Thi My Dung (flower shirt) exchanged with scientists at an excavation hole in Thanh Den.Photo: Nguyen Hung .

Explaining the conditions for maintaining seed vitality, Professor Tuan said that the best condition is anaerobic environment. However, even in the most modern methods such as vacuum pumps, it is impossible to create a complete vacuum.

"In my opinion, if it is true that the grain of 3,000 years of germination, then there may be a special condition here, which makes the area of ​​the relics of Thanh Den the grain of rice the best, keeping the vitality for I assume that in the area, there are grains of grain mixed with a lot of ash, burnt rice grains . Maybe this environment itself created absolute anaerobic conditions, " said the professor.

However, Tuan also left open the possibility of being out of anaerobic environment, "there may be conditions that humans have not yet identified".

Concurrent with Professor Dao The Tuan, Director of Vietnam Agriculture Science Nguyen Van Bo said, it does not exclude the possibility that these grains are surrounded by a special environment, which can be completely anaerobic. but people do not know.

"This is a rare phenomenon, just like the case of conclusions, or the fact that a person who doesn't eat or drink for decades can still live a healthy life but science still can't explain it," said Mr.

Mr. Nguyen Lan Cuong (standing, white shirt) was still surprised when he heard about the "3,000-year grain" sprouting.After being present at the Citadel, he affirmed that the grains were properly excavated from the earth floor dating back 3,000 years.Photo: Nguyen Hung.

According to Nguyen Lan Cuong, before going to the actual survey, he was very skeptical about the story of grain seeds after 3,000 years still sprouting. "43 years of archeology but I have never heard or witnessed this. I have read a lot of documents but have not seen anything similar. I am very afraid that these are the seeds of rats digging from the cave. and let go, " Cuong said.

Carrying doubts to the Citadel, he thoroughly examined the excavation pits, asked archaeological workers and experts. "The soil here is very compacted, there are no traces of the cave. Biologically still waiting for the experimental results of the Agricultural Genetics Institute, but I am completely convinced of the age of the germinated grain is about 3,000 years ago " , still not surprised, Mr. Cuong shared.

Meanwhile, according to Professor Dao The Tuan, the discovery of rice grains and rice grains in the site of Dong Dau culture has a very important meaning. "In the past, when studying about Dong Dau culture, scientists paid little attention to rice seeds. This time, if there is a systematically measured grain and rice, it will have a great effect in understanding the role of relics. Dong Dau in the process of agricultural development in Vietnam " , he said.

According to Mr. Tuan, this finding will serve as a basis for determining how the wet rice civilization of the Red River Delta was. Biologically, sprouting rice seeds will provide information about seed, help scientists know the evolution of Vietnamese rice . Mr. Tuan also affirmed, according to official documents, yet There have been any discoveries in the world that after 3,000 years the rice seeds still germinate.

In order to determine the exact date, Director of Agricultural Science Nguyen Van Bo said he would ask archaeologists to take samples abroad for testing according to the AMS method (the method of dating objects the most modern and accurate today. According to Mr. Set, currently Vietnam cannot do AMS, but using carbon isotope method (C14) requires a lot of samples and still has errors.

Talking to the press, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said that he was also surprised by the information "3,000 years of grain germination". The Minister has assigned the Agricultural Science Institute to coordinate with relevant agencies to preserve and monitor the development of germinated seeds. The institute will also coordinate international scientists to deeply analyze genes so that they can find out the possibility of breeding and using for the future.

"In case it is really necessary and the scientists have proposed it, even if it is costly, the Ministry will coordinate with the relevant ministries and agencies to implement it," Phat said.