[Article] Archaeological site stops Ha Noi roadwork.

HA NOI — City authorities have asked relevant agencies to halt construction on a section of a new road project in the western area of the former Thang Long citadel for archaeological research after various remnants of the old citadel were unearthed recently.

Nguyen Hoang Linh, deputy director of Ha Noi's Traffic and Transportation Department, said that he had asked the management board of the construction project to co-ordinate with the Culture Heritage Department to help archaeologists conduct research at the site.

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Historic site: A new road project is thought to run over part of the royal citadel site recently unearthed by archaeologists. The construction will be stopped to facilitate further research. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhat Anh.

However, Linh confirmed that the project would only be stopped on the section of road thought to run over the royal citadel. The rest of the project would continue to meet the construction deadline.
The new road links Van Cao Street with West Lake and runs across the existing Hoang Hoa Tham Street.
Prof Trinh Sinh, from the Viet Nam Archaeology Institute, said that archaeologists would first examine the site to establish the origin of the remnants.
The specialists would then "read" through layers of cultural features in the earth linked to various reigns including Nguyen (1802-1945), later Le (1428-1788), Tran (1225-1400), Ly (1010-1225) and the Dai La citadel (7th-9th century).
"The upper cultural layers may be destroyed," he said, "But deeper layers may be intact. The historical value of the Thang Long royal citadel area is as high as that of the Co Loa citadel built by King An Duong Vuong (about 257BC), which is located in Dong Anh District, some 20km to the north of Ha Noi's centre."
The city authorities' request came in response to a recent proposal by the Cultural Heritage Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism based on multiple complaints by local residents and archaeologists alike since 2006, when the project was first proposed.
According to Vu Van Khanh, a local resident living in Thuy Khe Ward, the Hoang Hoa Tham – West Lake road project would level the old Hoang Hoa Tham road surface, which is thought to contain a section of the old Dai La citadel.
If the project continues, the old Hoang Hoa Tham Street will be replaced by a new road 53.5m wide.
The Ha Noi Traffic and Transportation Department started the second stage of the project last year without consulting the culture ministry which has raised the controversial topic in local media.
Quick evaluation
After just an hour examining the site on April 29, specialists from the Viet Nam Historical Science Association, found various valuable artefacts.
The scientists said that the artefacts found at the site were only remnants of what was left after excavators dug up a huge chunk of the citadel wall and disposed of it.
Prof Vu Van Quan, from the Ha Noi Social Sciences and Humane University could not hide his regret: "We have searched for the lost citadel wall for years and now there is a possibility that we will not be able to preserve the section of wall that exists here."
"We can see an obvious clay and brick wall, which must have been built with great care," noted Prof Tong Trung Tin, "Within the wall, we have discovered artefacts mainly of the late Le reign and also some of Tran, Ly and the pre-Thang Long period."
Prof Phan Huy Le concluded: "The Hong Duc map (1490) shows that the citadel wall section is 100 per cent a part of the royal wall. Specialists will conduct further research to figure out whether the wall section was used under the Ly and Tran dynasties but we can confirm right now that the section was used under the late Le dynasty (1428-1788)."
He further added that the majority of remnants unearthed were of the Le dynasty and the bricks bore special features of the dynasty's architecture.
"The fact that remnants of a royal citadel outlined on a map of more than 500 years old exist in a modern street is a rare phenomenon," said Prof Sinh. "This section of wall had its own special function protecting the royal citadel and acting as a dike at the same time," said Prof Tin.
As many as 50 local families have signed a petition letter to the association to ask for specialists to help stop the centuries old relics from being destroyed.
Assessing the project management board's actions, Prof Le said that the board had not broken the Heritage Law as the citadel wall section had not been classed as a national historical relic."
"But after the artefacts were discovered and the matter was brought to the attention of the media, construction had to stop so that specialists could check the site. If it really is a historical treasure, construction must be stopped forever, otherwise the Heritage Law would be broken," he said.
Prof Le asked agencies to complete a file recognising the heritage status of other sections of the royal citadel wall in other parts of the city. He also urged archaeologists to make a map of archaeological sites to ensure they are treated properly. — VNS

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