A copy of the remains of a young boy found in a volcanic cave. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - The NationalMuseum of Nature on September 18 announced new details on a discovery ofprehistoric corpses in the volcanic caves in Krong No, the central highlands provinceof Dak Nong.
A report filed earlier this month todemonstrate the Krong No volcanic park in Dak Nong meets UNESCO criteria forrecognition as a global geopark also revealed that the corpse of a young boyhad been discovered in one of the area’s many caves.
Museum director Nguyen Trung Minh’s recentannouncement said the excavation had uncovered two additional corpses, all ofwhich date back nearly 7,000 years. Pieces of ceramics, stone and animal boneswere also found in the cave.
This finding is the first of its kind inthe area, Minh said, adding “it is a shocking discovery – the Krong No volcaniccave system is one of the largest of its kind, and the only one in SoutheastAsia where we have found traces of prehistoric people.”
These remains also bolster the site’s casefor recognition as a UNESCO site.
Professor Nguyen Lan Cuong, General Secretaryof the Vietnam Archaeology Association, said the three corpses included twoadults and a child of about four years old.
The bodies were found around one metrebelow the surface of the cave, surrounded by trace remains of ten totalcorpses.
The finding opens a new chapter in thestudy of Vietnam’s anthropology.
Scientists have also found traces of firesand rubbish, suggesting each cave had a designated purpose. Some could haveserved as long-term residences while others were merely temporary huntingcamps.
The discovery happened thanks to a researchproject, chaired by La The Phuc of the National Museum of Nature, designed toestablish a museum at Krong No on the cave heritage of the central highlands.
The museum will coordinate with experts inthe coming months to continue research into the prehistoric people of the redbasalt area. Scientists will propose areas for further study on the topic ofvolcanic cave archaeology in Southeast Asia.
The cave system, which stretches some 25kilometres, was first discovered in 2007. It demonstrates a structure typicalof caves formed by volcanic activity, and also contains traces of vegetablesfrom millions of years ago.-VNA
VNA
