Ancient ships found under fish ponds in Vietnam – History

Two well-preserved ancient wooden boats were found under a fish pond in Thuan Thanh, a small town in Bac Ninh, northern Vietnam. Their depth is 13 feet and is not exactly dated, but their design was typical of the Yazhi region when the Han Dynasty ruled (approximately 111 BC-203 AD).

The vessels were first exposed in December 2024, when a local man discovered their top edges as he dug into an old fish pond to restore their function. He informed the authorities and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the School of Archaeology of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences to begin an emergency excavation of the website on March 3.

When the top of the boat first appeared, archaeologists thought it was a shallow, single-person design, such as canoes for canoes, but after 20 days of excavation, they have revealed themselves to be made of solidly made wooden boards. A boat is about 50 feet long and 7 feet long. The other is slightly smaller at about 46 feet long and 5 feet wide. They were found parallel to each other about six feet. The wooden beams are connected to two bows, indicating that the two manipulations are a boat, an unusual structure that can make it stronger in the water.

The hull is divided into six compartments of different depths and widths, reaching five feet deep. The compartments are filled with sand and dirt, and archaeologists take each layer from each compartment separately and wash them through filters in designated areas to restore any artifacts and organic residues. Many fruit seeds were found in the compartment, as were several cultural relics. An analysis of the remains will determine the goods held by the compartment, what kind of fruits, and even where fruit trees grew.

The Fish Basin is located on the Dao River, about half a mile from the ancient Luy Lay castle, the first major urban center in Vietnam now. Archaeologists believe that their location on the river, close to Luy Lay, suggests that the ships are involved in the transport of the major trade network that flourishes in northern Vietnam.

According to historical records, western and southern countries that want to trade and interact with China must pass Giao Chi. Since the public era, especially since the beginning of the second and third century, more and more foreign merchants have arrived at Giao Chau, whose ships often docked in Luy Lau. Archaeological evidence and historical documents from Luy Lau confirmed that it was the main international commercial hub during the Northern rule.

“These ships have not been determined to be outdated, but they may be a reliable proof of trade activities along the river,” Dr. Trieu stressed.

Excavations will continue until April 3, after which priority will be given to the vessels and their exquisite wood. It must be temporarily saturated in time before long-term protection to prevent it from deteriorating rapidly.