The northeast maritime region of Vietnam, consisting of
Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong city, covers approximately
7500 km2 and incorporates over 3000 islands.
The prehistory of the region reflects fluctuations in
sea level and exchanges between cultural regions, especially
during the Hoabinhian and Bacsonian periods. This
research uses radiocarbon, geological and archaeological
data to describe a five stage model for the region’s
geoarchaeological evolution

Ha, Tran Trong

Mien, Nguyen Quang

English

University of Washington: ResearchWorks Journal Hosting

 IPPA BULLETIN 29, 2009: 56-60 GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME REGION IN NORTHEAST VIETNAM Nguyen Quang Mien1, Tran Trong Ha2 1Institute of Archaeology, 61 Phan Chu Trinh, Hanoi; 2Provincial Museum of Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam Email: nqmien@yahoo.com Keywords: Vietnam, Hoabinhian, Bacsonian, Neolithic, sea level change, geoarchaeology ABSTRACT The northeast maritime region of Vietnam, consisting of Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong city, covers ap-proximately 7500 km2 and incorporates over 3000 is-lands. The prehistory of the region reflects fluctuations in sea level and exchanges between cultural regions, espe-cially during the Hoabinhian and Bacsonian periods. This research uses radiocarbon, geological and archaeologi-cal data to describe a five stage model for the region’s geoarchaeological evolution.  SEA LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS AND GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION  In the late 19th century, French geologists paid close attention to the geology and archaeology of the study region (Fig. 1). Since then, several archaeological and geological investigations have been published (Anderson 1939; Ha Van Tan 1997; Ha Huu Nga 2002; Tran et al. 2004; Doan and Boyd 2001; Haruyama et al. 2001; Ngo and Tran 2004; Fontaine 2004; Department 2004). In particular, ancient marine terraces and sediments have been radiocarbon dated (Table 1). These radiocarbon dates are used here in uncalibrated form to create a geoarchaeological picture of the maritime northeast region. This reconstruction is divided into several time periods.  The late Pleistocene, to 20,000 BP  During the last glaciation, regional sea-level was decreas-ing, but not regularly. From 33,000 to 20,000 BP, the rate of sea level fall accelerated. Regional climate changed from wet and warm to cold and dry.  20,000 to 7000 BP  In the early part of this period the regional sea level was at its lowest, 120 m lower than present. The ancient marine shoreline lay in places hundreds of kilometers east of its current position. The modern maritime areas and the islands of Ha Long Bay formed the surface of a large, low-lying plateau, across which palaeo-rivers flowed.  The even and flat terrain, abundant freshwater and a wetter and warmer coastal climate encouraged transport and mobility. Emigration of people from the mountains eastward towards the low-lying coastal plains probably occurred, where there were abundant natural resources and it was warmer. These movements contributed to create the Soi Nhu culture. Based on radiocarbon dates from freshwater shells, the age of the Soi Nhu occupation during this period is between 16,000 and 10,000 BP (Table 1). After reaching its lowest stage, the regional sea level began to rise slowly. This was associated with a change in climate from cold and dry to wet and warm. The Soi Nhu inhabitants gathered in small groups and settled in lime-stone caves, collected freshwater molluscs, hunted and conducted cultural exchanges between groups, particu-larly with the Hoabinhian and Bacsonian inhabitants of the mountainous areas. Such exchanges are demonstrated by the edge-ground axes (Bacsonian typology) collected from the Soi Nhu cultural region. Marine shells are also found in Bacsonian sites inland, and kitchen deposits with Melania sp. shells occur in both regions (Ha and Nguyen 2002: 45-46; Colani 1938). Around 10,000 BP, sea level was still about 30 m lower than present, and was rising slowly. The hot and wet weather caused the expansion of maritime salt-marsh forests. Traces of these forests are observed as thick peat sediments that extend as far inland as Hanoi. The more productive environment and the abundant nutrient supply resulted in increasing sizes of the fresh water molluscs found in the cultural layers. One of the largest recorded shell mounds is that in Tien Ong cave. In contrast to the Hoabinh-Bacsonian sites, Soi Nhu sites rarely produce  pebble tools and flakes. Although fishing equipment is  not found, Nguyen Khac Su (2005) suggests that the Soi Nhu inhabitants began limited exploitation of marine products at this time.  7000 BP to 5000 BP  In this period, regional sea level increased to its mid-Holocene high (Nguyen and Le 2000; Doan and Boyd 2001; Nguyen and Bui 2003). The 14C dates for ancient marine traces in limestone caves in Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh Province have shown that the sea reached its present level about 6200 BP. After that, marine transgres-sion took place more quickly, so that by 5500 BP it reached 3 m higher than present. Thus, in comparison to the Hoabinh and Bacson cultures, the Soi Nhu culture had to move in an opposite direction, from the drowning BULLETIN OF THE INDO-PACIFIC PREHISTORY ASSOCIATION 29, 2009 57  Figure 1. Distribution of maritime sites in northeast Vietnam NGUYEN AND TRAN: GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME REGION OF NE VIETNAM 58 coastline back inland in order to avoid the marine trans-gression. 5000 to 3000 BP This period spans the formation and development of the Ha Long culture (Danh Do La culture), named first by Anderson (1939). In the Ha Long culture, fishing was a traditional occupation and new techniques in making stone tools were developed. This is demonstrated by the shouldered axes that were usually made by sawing and polishing (Ha Van Tan 1997: 418-419).  In this period, the sea level was at its maximum during  the middle Holocene transgression. The coastal landscape at this time contained the following features: 1. Coastal intertidal flats, usually extensive and span-ning Yen Mo and Thuy Nguyen districts and also along the seacoast in Quang Yen, Hai Ninh and Quang Ha. They were usually advantageous areas for cultivation and fish farming and were, therefore, of-ten cleared and settled by Ha Long culture inhabi-tants. In the tidal flats of Ha Long Bay there are still small hills that are several hundred square meters in area and about 2-4 m high. These were also advanta-geous places for residence for many ancient Ha Long cultures. 2. Maritime sand terraces consisting of sand ridge complexes and sand dunes, distributed amongst is-lands in Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba Island and Thuy Nguyen district. Within these sediments are marine molluscs and numerous Ha Long artifacts. The typi-cal sites of this period include Cai Beo, Ngoc Vung, Bai Ben and Bai Cat Don. The prehistoric inhabitants living at the shore during maximum sea level became marine fishermen who resided in the sand dunes, next to productive fishing grounds.  3000 to 2000 BP During this period the sea level was falling, causing exposure of former tidal flats. Agriculture, and particu-larly wet-rice, became strongly developed, and until 2000 BP there were populous villages on many former tidal flats, such as Trai Son, Viet Khe, Dong Xa and Chau Can.  Handcrafts had also grown with the appearance of work-shops to craft jade and fine arts, in Trang Kenh, Bai Ben and Bai Tu. Trade expanded to the Red River delta, southern China and the surrounding islands.  CONCLUSIONS The geoarchaeology of northeast maritime region of Vietnam was associated closely with the sea level changes and cultural exchanges of the ancient inhabitants (Fig. 2). Relationships between the Hoabinhian and Bacsonian inhabitants were particularly well established. Human traces are present from the late Palaeolithic until now, and may be divided into the following stages: 1. The marine regression stage, corresponding to the regional Palaeolithic to 20,000 BP; 2. A period of slowly falling and then rising sea level, corresponding to the Soi Nhu culture, from 20,000 to 7000 BP;  3. A period of rapid sea level rise, corresponding to the Cai Beo culture, from 7000 to 5000 BP; 4. The stage of maximum sea level from 5000 to 3000 BP, corresponding to the Ha Long culture; 5. The marine regression corresponding to formation and development of the Dong Dau and Dong Son cul-tures, from 3000 to 2000 BP.  REFERENCES Anderson, J.G. 1939. Topographical and archaeological studies in the Far East. Bulletin of the Museum Far Eastern An-tiquities 11:75-107. Colani, M. 1938. Decouvertes préhistoriques dans les paysages de la Baie d'Along. Institut Indochinois pour l'E'tude de l'Homme 1:93-6. Department Geology & Minerals of Vietnam (DGMV) and Department of Geology of Japan (DGJ) 2004. Quarternary Stratigraphy of the Deltas in Vietnam. Hanoi . Doan Dinh Lam and W.E. Boyd 2001. Some evidences of the sea-level in late pleistocene-Holocene in Halong-Ninh Binh. Journal of Earth Sciences 3: 86-91 (in Vietnamese). Fontaine, H. 2004. Indochinese geologists with prehistory. In One Century of Vietnamese Archaeology, pp. 257-266. Hanoi: Social Publishing House. Ha Huu Nga 2005. The Soi Nhu culture. Unpublished ms. in the Provincial Museum of Quang Ninh. (in Vietnamese) Ha Huu Nga and Nguyen Van Hao 2002. Ha Long Bay in Prehistory. Management Board of Ha Long Bay (in Viet-namese). Ha Van Tan (ed.) 1997. Following to the Ancient Cultural Traces. Hanoi: Social Publishing House (in Vietnamese). Haruyama S., Matsumoto J., Sakurai Y., Le Quoc Doanh, Le Van Tiem and Le Khanh Phon. 2001. Long Climate Change and the Environment of the Lower Red Delta. Hanoi: Agriculture Publishing House. Ngo Quang Toan and Tran Nghi 2004. Development history of Quarternary desposits in north plains of Vietnam. In One Century of Vietnamese Archaeology, pp. 267-281. Hanoi: Social Publishing House. Nguyen Khac Su (ed.) 2005. Archaeology in the Northeast Maritime Region of Vietnam. Hanoi: Social Publishing House (in Vietnamese). Nguyen Quang Mien and Le Khanh Phon 2000. Some radiocar-bon dates in Quarternary investigations in Nam Dinh-Ninh Binh (Viet Nam). Journal of Geology, série B (15-16): 106-109. Nguyen Quang Mien and Bui Vinh 2003. Da But culture in evolution of Thanh Hoa-Ninh Binh plants. Journal of Ar-chaeology 3: 31-44. (in Vietnamese). Tran Duc Thanh, Dinh Van Huy, Nguyen Can and Dang Duc Nga 2004. Identities of coastal development and Holocene sea-level variation in Hai Phong area. In One Century of Vietnamese Archaeology, pp. 282-297. Hanoi: Social Pub-lishing House. Tran Trong Ha 2004. Archaeology in Quang Ninh: achieve-ments and prospects. In One Century of Vietnamese Ar-chaeology, pp. 1007-1220. Hanoi: Social Publishing House.   BULLETIN OF THE INDO-PACIFIC PREHISTORY ASSOCIATION 29, 2009 59 Table 1. Uncalibrated C14 dates for the northeast maritime region of Vietnam. Abbreviations: AA University of Arizona; ANU Australian National University, HNK Hanoi; Bln Berlin, BA Beijing. ZK: Chinese Instistute of Archaeology, Beijing. Site Lab. code BP Notes  Ang Ma ANU-11116 25,510±220 Cyclophus sp. in Hien Hao Cave (Cat Ba, Hai Phong).  Hang Quan Y HNK-220/1 19,470±255 freshwater molluscs  Hang Cao HNK-220/2 4600±105 marine molluscs Hang Luon HNK-220/3 16,170±250 freshwater molluscs  Dau Ram Lon HNK-159 7440± 95 Cyclophus sp. in limestone clay at Hoang Tan commune (Quang Yen, Quang Ninh) Ha Lung Bln (???) 6485±60 Melania sp. in limestone clay at Son   Bln (???) 6301±60 Duong commune (Hoanh Bo, Quang Ninh) Soi Nhu Bln-1975/I  4125±180 Melania sp. in  limestone cave sediment at Thach  Bln-1975/II  5560±180 Ha commune (Cam Pha, Quang Ninh)  Bln-3333/I   4,460±160   Bln-3333/II  4300±400   HNK-300  3050±145 freshwater molluscs (Cyclophus and Melania) Cai Beo ZK-328 5645±115 charcoal in a cultural layer 1.8m deep in a marine sand terrace at Cat Hai (Cat Ba, Hai Phong). Thien Long HNK-295 13,310±130 Cyclophus sp.  Hang Trong HNK-294 12,030±110 freshwater molluscs  Nha Tro HNK-296  2,950±120 freshwater molluscs (Melania sp.). Bai Tu Long HNK-297 4370±95 bone  Bai Ben HNK-87 3030±50 marine molluscs in a marine sand terrace, Hien Hao (Cat Ba, Hai Phong).  HNK-91 3180±50    HNK-92 3640±50   HNK-86 3000±50   HNK- L1 3450±120  plant fragments in pottery   HNK- L2 3590±140  Trang Kenh AA-2772 3280±55  charcoal in layer L8, 160 cm   AA-2773 3340±70  charcoal in layer L8, 160 cm   Bln-3710 3260±150  charcoal in layer L8  Bln- 891 3405±100  charcoal 190 to 210 cm   ZK-307 3005±90  charcoal at 140 cm  Bln-891 3405±100  charcoal 190 to 200 cm   ANU-10884 3440±60  charcoal 175 to190 cm  BA-97005 2390±60  charcoal in layer L2  BA-97006 3330±90  charcoal in layer L2  BA-97007 3910±60  charcoal in layer L2  BA-97008 3080±60  charcoal in layer L3  BA-97009 3190±60  charcoal in layer L3  BA-97010 3000±60  charcoal in layer L3  BA-97011 3390±60  charcoal in layer L4  BA-97012 3440±60  charcoal in layer L4  BA-97013 3530±70  charcoal in layer L5  BA-97014 3220±60  charcoal in layer L5  HNK-1/1 3035±160  charcoal 140 to160 cm  HNK-KT3L1 2970±115  plant fragments in pottery   HNK-KT3L2 3120±135  Trai Son HNK-6/1 2320±60  coffin wood   HNK-6/2 2330±60  Viet Khe Bln-950 2480±100   Bln-1227 2415±100   Bln-1249 2330±100      Hang Dinh ASCU VCD-20 33,960±680 freshwater molluscs in ancient terrace at 7.8 m a.s.l  ASCU VCD-23 >40,000 freshwater molluscs in ancient terrace at 9.6 m a.s.l. Tien Noi HNK-163 6240± 90 plants in marine sediment Gia Loc Bln (???) 7190±85 wood at 5 m depth  Bln (???) 4145±60 wood at 2 m depth NGUYEN AND TRAN: GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME REGION OF NE VIETNAM 60  Figure 2. Changing directions of ancient population migration and exchange in northeast Vietnam.  

GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME REGION IN NORTHEAST VIETNAM

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GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME REGION IN NORTHEAST VIETNAM

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