Radiocarbon Dating Confirms Đông Sơn Era Origin
A remarkable discovery of two ancient wooden boats, unearthed seven months ago in a fish pond in Bắc Ninh province, has been officially dated to nearly 2,000 years ago, placing them in the late Đông Sơn period.
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| Image of ancient boat discovered in Bac Ninh in March (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong) |
The artifacts were accidentally found by a local resident while renovating a fish pond in Công Hà ward (now Song Liễu, Thuận Thành town). Following the discovery, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Quang Miên of the Institute of Archaeology's Laboratory was invited to the site to conduct research. He collected wood samples from the planks and longitudinal beams for Carbon-14 (C14) dating to determine the vessels' age.
Scientific Confirmation: 2nd Century AD
At the "60th New Archaeological Discoveries – 2025" Seminar, Dr. Nguyễn Quang Miên made the crucial announcement:
"Using the C14 method, the age of the ancient boats in Bắc Ninh is determined to be approximately the 2nd century AD, nearly 2,000 years ago, corresponding to the late Đông Sơn period."
Dr. Miên clarified that this result was obtained by the Institute of Archaeology in Vietnam, while samples sent to foreign laboratories for C14 analysis are still pending.
Further microscopic analysis of the wood grain structure revealed that the timber used belonged to a large, long-growing, evergreen broad-leaf tree common in tropical regions, providing key data on the ancient shipbuilding material.
Unique Dual-Hulled Design and Non-Metallic Construction
Initial assessments by the excavation team highlight the structural complexity and rarity of the find. Researchers propose that the artifacts are a double-hulled boat. The remnants that were exposed are believed to be the two lower hulls, acting as twin pontoons to support a much larger structure on top, which has since vanished.
Crucially, the team noted the boat’s unique construction: it was built entirely of wood, utilizing no metal nails in the structure or for linking the planks. This complex, sophisticated technique is considered unique to date, not only in Vietnam but globally.
Theories of Use: Ritual or Transport?
Regarding the ancient purpose of the Bắc Ninh boats, Dr. Trần Thị Liên of the Vietnam Archaeological Association suggests a compelling link to local religious practices, specifically the rain-praying rituals at Dâu Pagoda.
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| Image inside an ancient boat cabin in Bac Ninh (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong). |
Dr. Liên noted that, traditionally, particularly during the Lý Dynasty, emperors would visit the pagoda during droughts or floods to perform rituals or bring the Tứ Pháp (Four Dharma statues) back to the capital. She hypothesizes:
"I believe the ancient boats discovered in Bắc Ninh are likely related to the execution of rituals. Based on the structure, a flat deck, estimated to be about 100 square meters, may have once existed above the hulls, used for rituals, or procession of the statues on the river."
Preservation: An Urgent Global Challenge
Discussions have centered on the best conservation strategy for the fragile artifacts. Experts have proposed on-site preservation, such as constructing a system of basins or keeping the boats submerged.
Dr. Nguyễn Việt, Director of the Southeast Asia Prehistory Research Center, noted that laboratory preservation is entirely feasible but complex. This method involves disassembling the wooden panels, numbering them, neutralizing sulfur, and soaking them in tanks with scheduled water changes. Chemical treatment, potentially using polyethylene glycol similar to the method used to preserve the Swedish warship Vasa would replace water trapped in the wood to prevent warping before reassembly and exhibition.
Alternatively, if on-site preservation is chosen, Dr. Việt suggested transforming the discovery location into an open-air museum or park, complete with underground, waterproof tanks to control pH, humidity, and temperature. He even mentioned that conservation experts from the Rhine River in Germany are ready to assist Vietnam, underscoring the international significance of the discovery.