The Institute of Archaeology under the Vietnam Academy of Science andTechnology has contributed remarkably to the research of nationalhistory, sovereignty and traditional cultural values.

Mostworthy of note is the institute’s trace of Vietnamese people’s ancestry,said the institute’s Director Tong Trung Tin at a ceremony to mark its45 th founding anniversary in Hanoi on November 29.

According to Tin, the institute has proven the existence of Hung Kings,who had been believed as legendry founders of Vietnam , thus helpingto shed light on an unknown period of time in the country’s history.

Together with the country’s archeological sector in general, theinstitute has outlined a vivid picture of Vietnam in its early daysof national construction and protection, he added.

Acknowledging the important role archaeology plays in studying nationalhistory and protecting the country’s sovereignty, the institute hasconducted research in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, the CentralHighlands and the southern region.

In Truong Sa, theydiscovered traces of the continuous presence of Vietnamese peoplebetween the 10th century and the 20 th century, contributing to provingthe country’s sovereignty over the archipelago at an early date.

The institute has also contributed to preserving national heritagethrough discovery, research and assessment of historical relics, Tinnoted, adding that it has compiled over 670 dossiers that provideimportant data for the preservation and upgrading of heritage.

Thanks to those efforts, many Vietnamese heritage sites have beenrecognised by UNESCO, including the Thang Long royal citadel and the Hocitadel.

Tin pointed to challenges and difficulties faced bythe institute, such as poor research facilities and heritage sites onthe brink of vanishing.

The institute plans to prioritisecoordination with localities to conduct fundamental research andunderwater archaeological activities in service of the national strategyon research and exploitation of the marine resources, he said.-VNA