Archaeological survey at Lạch Trường estuary (Thanh Hóa province) in 2025

Abstract

The Lạch Trường Estuary is an area with a long history of human habitation, dating back to the Neolithic period and continuing through the early Bronze Age. By the first ten centuries of the Common Era, this place had already become one of the centers of cultural exchange, particularly with the North - most clearly evidenced by the large number of brick tombs discovered here. This area flourished during the Trần and Early Lê dynasties (13th - 15th centuries), when the Lạch Trường was one of the main and most important ports of Thanh Hóa and of Đại Việt as a whole. A variety of goods such as ceramics, forest products, and aquastic resources were collected and exchanged at this port. Together with adjacent ports, Lạch Trường formed part of an extensive trade network, contributing significantly to the economic and social development of the region. By the 17th century, Lạch Trường gradually declined in importance, and by the early 18th century it had completely lost its status as a major port. Despite its considerable historical depth, this area has received limited attention from archaeologists. Aside from excavations conducted to clarify aspects of the Hoa Lộc culture, other sites in the vicinity have been subject only to preliminary surveys. Due to changes in river courses and coastal accretion, the archaeological traces of the ancient port have been largely buried beneath sediments. This surveys have revealed several locations where glazed ceramic and stoneware fragments of Vietnamese and Chinese origin were found, dating from the 13th - 18th centuries, with the majority belonging to the 13th - 16th centuries.