As Vietnam entered the 21st century it began to prepare for the 1000th anniversary of the founding of its capital Thang Long, now Hanoi. In the heart of the city, a rescue excavation was launched on land earmarked for the construction of a new National Assembly building. Archaeologists unearthed thirteen centuries of vestiges of the ancient city of Thang Long, yielding a richer record than anyone had dared to hope for. Construction plans were shelved, excavations widened, and at the city's millennial celebrations in 2010, UNESCO announced its inscription of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long on its World Heritage List. This archaeological discovery has two histories. The first, told here by the archaeologists involved, is the story of the dig, as their trowels brought to light the bricks, tiles, pillars, sculptures and ceramics of countless ancient temples and palaces. The second is the history of the citadel itself, in its early years as an outpost of the Chinese empire, in its heyday as the Forbidden City of Vietnam's emperors, and in its downgrading and eventual destruction at the hands of the Nguyen dynasty and French colonial rulers. The book relates the questions, findings and emotions of research team members as the imperial citadel took shape before their eyes. Drawing on the results of their work, it presents a historical narrative of the continuous development of a regional political centre on this site. Bringing together history, urban history and a fascinating story of the interplay of influences from China and Southeast Asia, this is also a fascinating case of an Asian capital city coming to understand its history, and deciding how to preserve its archaeological remains.
Andrew Hardyis a historian of Vietnam, with research interests in migration and ethnic relations. He heads the Hanoi centre of the Ecole francaise d'Extreme-Orient (EFEO). Nguy?n Ti?n Dongwas an archaeologist at the Institute of Archaeology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.
List of Maps and Figures Acknowledgements Foreword Introduction: The Discovery of Thang Long Imperial Citadel: Archaeological Dig and Historical Event Plates: Thang Long Citadel Excavation Landscapes Part I. Excavation of the Citadel as Historical Event 1. Archaeological Research and Discoveries at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Site, 18 Hoang Di?u Street, Hanoi 2. Fascinating Mysteries from a Corner of the Citadel (Section D4-D6) 3. Discoveries Change Our Understanding of Vietnam's Ancient Architecture 4. Interpreting the Cultural Layers 5. Our Ancestors' Bricks 6. The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long Hanoi - World Heritage Maps and Figures Part II. Research into the History of the Citadel 7. Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Vietnamese Memory 8. Gao Pian ?? (822-87), the Last Protector General of Annan 9. The Location of the Archaeological Site at 18 Hoang Di?u Street in the Structure of the Thang Long-Hanoi Citadel through the Historical Periods 10. ??i Vi?t and Champa, Viewed from the Excavation Trenches at 18 Hoang Di?u Street 11. Ancient Thang Long through Old Maps 12. From Thang Long to Hanoi: the Downgrading and Destruction of the 19th-Century Citadel Glossary Bibliography List of Contributors Index
Even those who are familiar with Hanoi will find this book encaptivating, refreshing, personal, and filled with juicy details." - Tana Li, Australian National University
