| Abstract: |
The Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long had a thousand-year history as the capital of Đại Việt and, as the seat of its independent ruling dynasties the Lý, Trần and Lê, lay at the heart of the civilisation that underpins today’s nation of Vietnam. This history is a source of considerable pride for Vietnamese people. Despite this, until the early twenty-first century, the citadel was known to us only through a small number of historical records found in books and maps, and a smattering of place names, legends, and historical sites. It is no exaggeration to say that the archaeological excavation at 18 Hoàng Diệu Street, carried out in 2002–04 by the Institute of Archaeology, was an event of immense importance for scholars’ understanding of the Imperial Citadel. The cultural layers of the site’s stratigraphy reveal a complex of vestiges dating from pre-Thăng Long times through the Thăng Long period to the modern era of the city of Hanoi. The discoveries excited admiration from members of the academic community, but also from the leaders of Vietnam’s Communist Party and government, the Vietnamese people, and many foreigners, including some heads of state. Amid the ruins of palaces and pavilions, as the priceless artefacts crafted centuries before our time were uncovered, all gazed with veneration upon the cultural heritage of Thăng Long.
|
