Revealing huge waterways under Thang Long Citadel

Near the Doan Mon gate, archaeologists unearthed more relics of the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen periods. In particular, there is a huge brick water road never seen in any archaeological site in Vietnam.

>>>The site of the archaeological site of Hoang Thanh

As recommended by UNESCO, the archaeological research of Thang Long Citadel was continued after the world heritage was recognized, archaeologists excavated 500m ² , the deepest excavation hole was 4.2m in the center of Cam Thanh in 6 months.

According to the excavation results of the Institute of Archeology published on the morning of December 26, the relics revealed that many cultural layers from the Ly Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty intertwined. The architectural vestiges of the Ly dynasty include large waterways built with square bricks, brick cover and wooden piles running through the East-West direction, 2m wide, 2m high, and many wall foundations.

The vestiges of the Tran dynasty architecture include lemons of decorative flowers lying on the foundation of the Ly dynasty wall, the sewer system, the rectangular cover bricks. Remnants of the Le period remain on the square and brick tiles on the west side of the excavation pit. These tiles also appeared from the Kinh Thien electric platform to Doan Mon.

The Nguyen Dynasty also left imprints with sewers, including two sluice gates lined with blue stones and gray bricks.

According to Assoc. Dr. Tong Trung Tin, Director of the Institute of Archeology, previously had many assumptions that the archaeological area is the space of Thien An main palace in the Ly - Tran period and the Can Nguyen main palace in Ly Dynasty. In the excavations in 2011, the traces of Kinh Thien's foundation foundation were discovered, and the electric platform is still a mystery.

Scientists surveyed huge waterways in the excavation area. (Photo: Doan Loan)

With this excavation, archaeologists have discovered the ground of paving bricks from the area of ​​Doan Mon spread across the entire large space to Kinh Thien Palace. In addition, there is a structure of "Ngu Dao" foundation of Le Dynasty with many ceramic pieces of Le So and Le Trung Hung. Archaeological findings also show the process of building foundation to base the Dai Trieu yard under Le So in the underneath the brick wall.

Archaeologists also found vestiges of the Ly dynasty in the north of Doan Mon area with large waterways built of square bricks. Parallel to this waterway, there are vestiges of the foundation of the foundation of the Ly dynasty wall 1.6 m wide. Water line is 2m wide, 2m high and has wooden poles for reinforcement. This is a huge waterway built of bricks never seen in any archaeological monuments in Vietnam.

Assoc. Tong Trung Tin said that it is possible that this water line was used to drain water during the Forbidden City or a spiritual mark related to feng shui in the center of the Ly Dynasty.

In the direction of regional conservation revealed, Tong Trung Tin said that in order not to spoil the relics, they would have to fill up the land, but also have opinions so that people can view archaeological areas to enrich cultural capital. at the Citadel center.

Many historians have made judgments about underground waterways and proposed to preserve excavation holes by glazing or shelter for people to visit. According to Prof. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Chairman of the Hanoi Historical Society, the center of the Imperial Citadel had not found the vestiges of the Ly Song period, which has found the waterway of the Ly dynasty, so the possibility of Ly Thai King to build Cong Nguyen electricity in the area This area is along with Long Tri yard. To make it clearer, the electricity itself needs to be expanded to the side of Nguyen Tri Phuong street.

"We can identify this as the main electric area of ​​the Citadel, so the archaeological area should keep everyone coming to see it as a form of retaining this monument," said Nguyen Quang Ngoc.

Dr. Tran Duc Cuong, former Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said that a large waterway could be a waterway, but it could also be a water reservoir or a feng shui project."In the famous monument, but not to see the results of the research world, it is very regretful, so there must be a way to preserve such as glass, roof for long-term conservation. Land filling is a reluctant measure. Our location is in the middle of the capital so there is nothing to limit for people to enjoy , " said Mr. Tran Duc Cuong.