Traces of ancient humans found in Vietnam's biggest archaeological discovery

A display of some relics allegedly belonging to ancient humans living around 800,000 years ago in the northern province Gia Lai. Photo: Tran Hieu

In what has been described as a breakthrough, Vietnamese and Russian archaeologists have found valuable artifacts in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai that they say belonged to ancient humans around 800,000 years ago.

The traces of homo erectus or "upright man," including fossils and more than 200 stone tools, were discovered at 12 locations around An Khe Town, according to the findings announced by the scientists on Friday.

It was "the biggest and most important" archeological discovery not only for Vietnam but Asia, Dr. Nguyen Giang Hai, chief of Vietnam's Institute of Archeology, told Tuoi Tre newspaper.

The Russian team worked with the Vietnamese institute on the two-year excavation. The archaeologists are expected to organize an international conference to publish the findings to the world.

Huynh Nu Thu Ha, vice chairwoman of the People's Committee of Gia Lai, said the province will launch a project to preserve the relic sites. Thanh Nien Daily


Link 2: Documentan en Vietnam más de 200 herramientas de piedra atribuidas a Homo erectus
Sus descubridores consideran que tienen una antigüedad de 800.000 años
Desde Vietnam se ha producido el anuncio del sorprendente hallazgo de abundantes restos relacionados con la presencia de Homo erectus en las Tierras aLtas centrales del país. Un equipo de arqueólogos vietnamitas y rusos ha presentado ahora el resultado de más de dos años de excavaciones arqueológicas, que han permitido identificar 12 yacimientos arqueológis y recuperar más de 200 herramientas de piedra y también restos fósiles. A la espera de más datos, sus descubridores atribuyen a los hallazgos presentados una antigüedad de 800.000 años, sin duda una información clave para ampliar nuestro conocimiento sobre la expansión de los homínidos por Asia...