Phia Mun Cave reveals wealth of archaeological treasures

"Archaeologists have finished the second phase of excavation at Phia Mun Cave, Na Hang District in the province of Tuyen Quang and have uncovered over 1,000 relics and 12 tombs of the Neolithic Hoa Binh culture

Excavations began in May last year and archaeologists soon realised the importance of the site, as they quickly uncovered objects 6,000 to 7,000 years old, and concluded that the cave was inhabited during Neolithic times.

"I have been doing archaeological research for 32 years at many caves, and this time it was really tough work, the cave was located in deep jungle making work very difficult," said Trinh Nang Chung of the Viet Nam Institute of Archaeology, head of the archaeology team.

"The reward for it being so difficult to get to is that the site is completely untouched, in pristine condition."

During excavation of the first strata archaeologists uncovered stone tools, animal bones and sea snail shells, proving that the inhabitants of the cave had contact with coastal tribes. They also discovered a set of tools carved with motifs of the Hoa Binh culture.(...)"

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