Dozens of ancient coffins discovered on Lang Son mountain

Rumors about a deep cave in the limestone mountains near the Vietnam-China border containing 20 ancient coffins with gold and silver treasures have made many people come despite the danger of their lives.

Halfway up Phja Mon mountain (circled), where the ancient coffin is located. PHOTO: Duy Chien Deadly According to the police report of Van Lang district, Lang Son province, around 9 a.m., on October 15, 2017, local authorities discovered a ladder rope about 60 meters long made of blue synthetic fiber, bamboo slats. with two-headed iron pipes hanging from the middle of the cliff of Phja Mon mountain to National Highway 4A, in the area of ​​​​zone 5, Na Sam town, Van Lang district. Van Lang district police investigated, determined that there were 4 people including: Nguyen Thanh Hai (SN 1965), Hua Van Mong (SN 1974), Hua Van Vang (SN 1990, all residing in Na Sam town, Van district. Lang) and Doan Hong Thien (SN 1992, police officer of Trang Dinh district, Lang Son) involved in the incident. At the police station, the above group of people confessed that they heard rumors that there was a mysterious cave in the middle of the high and dangerous mountain Phja Mon, where there were many gold and silver treasures left by the ancients. In 2001, a group of people entered the cave. Two of them died after returning. A person was determined when swinging from the cave to the ground, the rope was not enough to land, this person jumped down, suffered from back cartilage and died soon after. The death of the gold seekers accidentally like magic so the group of 4 people living in the locality continued to go to the cave to find treasure. They agreed with each other, performing work at night, hiding during the day, resting in niches and caves. At around 8:00 p.m. on October 13, 2017, four people departed from Hai’s house, carrying a rope ladder along the Coc Lai trail to the top of Phja Mon mountain, then dropping the rope from the top to the cave area in the middle. (This cave is about 50m from the top of the mountain and over 60m from the foot of the mountain). The other two are Mong and Vang waiting at the top of the mountain to supply. After the exploration, the next night, they dropped the rope, swung their body to the ground and was then summoned by the local police agency. Colonel Pham Tuan Bang, head of Van Lang district police, said that based on documents and testimonies of the subjects, the mouth of the cave suspected of containing gold was about 3m wide and 3m high. From the mouth of the cave, there is a stone mound about 1m high, blocking the entrance of the cave. In the cave, there are many compartments (subjects have explored 3 compartments). The first compartment is about 60m2 wide (10m long, 6m wide). In the middle of the first chamber on the right, there is a small path going up, to a parallel 60m2 wide cave, higher than the first cave. There are about 20 round wooden coffins (about 1m long, 40cm wide) inside with skulls and bones suspected to be human bones. The wooden coffins are arranged in 2 rows in the style of terraced fields, some of the coffins have been broken (in this compartment there is no altar, no incense bowl, writing on the cave wall). The group of people were quietly following a small path to continue searching for gold and silver, when they stopped, did not dare to continue, and quickly left the scene because in the dark there was the shadow of a giant animal, the shape of a giant animal. like a python blocking the road. “After the incident, it was reported that the Chinese came to the locality to continue to explore precious minerals hidden in Phja Mon cave. Through investigation, it was a false rumor, in which there was no wealth, gold or silver,” Colonel Bang affirmed. The coffin was buried in the mountain (photo provided by Lang Son Museum) “Heavenly Burial” Mr. Nong Duc Kien, Director of Lang Son Provincial Museum, said that after receiving the information, specialized agencies have entered the investigation. According to photos and documents provided by authorities and people, the coffins are now not intact, most of them have been broken open (maybe because some people had previously entered to find antiques). . The coffin is made of a large wooden trunk split into two equal parts, in the middle is cut in the shape of a trough to place the body, then close to each other) with keyholes at both ends that are locked with wedges. The coffin is about 1m long, 0.4m in diameter (many are broken and rotten). There are no carved patterns on the coffin. The coffin is arranged in two rows facing up in the style of terraced fields located close to the cave wall, inside there are human bones. “This is a rather unique form of ancient burial in a cave. The dead are not buried but buried in a cave, the coffin is made of tree trunks, crafted quite delicately, shaped like a small canoe, expressed through the technique of opening the heart and latching the coffin quite similar to The coffin was discovered at Keo Lam cave in Lung Phay village, Chi Minh commune, Trang Dinh district, Lang Son in 2016. Based on the specimen, it is possible that this artifact was about 300-400 years ago. ” Mr. Kien said. “The form of ancient burial is quite unique in the cave, in Vietnam, it has only been discovered in three provinces of Thanh Hoa, Son La, and Lang Son.” He Nong Duc Kien ,Director of Lang Son Museum According to Mr. Kien, the discovery of graves at Phja Mon cave are important historical documents, contributing to scientific research for archaeologists, ethnographers, in many fields of history and human history. race, creed. Through it, we can lift the mysterious veil of the ancient tomb, sketching out the economic and social situation of the ethnic people of Lang in ancient times. Mr. Kien said, on April 23, 2021, the survey team including leaders of the cultural industry, the Museum and the People’s Committee of Van Lang district came to the scene. However, because the road to Phja Mon cave is very difficult, having to use a climbing ladder from the top of the mountain is very dangerous and unsafe, and on this occasion the COVID-19 epidemic broke out again, so the work must be done. stop. “We are thinking of hiring an expedition team with specialized machinery to go into the cave to collect artifacts for research. But in the immediate future, in order to manage and protect the artifacts in their original state, it is recommended that local authorities at all levels step up propaganda work and take measures to protect the integrity of antiques,” said Mr. Kien.