Nearly 1,600-year-old brick tombs in Vietnam yield pottery, swords, jewelry

After nearly two months of excavation, the Nghe An-Soviet Nghe Tinh Museum and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, on Wednesday reported preliminary findings from the emergency excavation of the Ru But brick tomb site in Kim Lien Commune, Nghe An Province.

In April 2026, a local resident, Tran Dinh Tuan, discovered the vaulted remains of a brick tomb while digging soil to plant trees in the Ru But area.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Anh, head of the Department of History and Culture at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the emergency excavation identified and exposed the remains of two brick tombs facing the same direction.

Tomb 1, or M1, was discovered while a local resident was digging the soil, whereas Tomb 2, or M2, was discovered and exposed during the excavation.

Both tombs consist of three parts: a burial pit, an entrance passage and a burial chamber.

Most of the bricks used in the two tombs are low-fired red or gray rectangular bricks of various sizes. Most are undecorated red bricks, while a small number feature checkerboard patterns.

The patterns are found on the narrow edges of the bricks and include checkerboard, rosette and X-shaped designs.

The burial objects in M1 fall into three main material groups: pottery, glass and metal.

The burial objects in M2 remained undisturbed, with the artifacts still in their original positions. They comprise four main material groups: pottery, stoneware, glass and metal.

Based on the tomb structures, construction techniques and artifacts found at the site, archaeologists identified the two structures as brick-built burial chambers.

Such tombs, commonly known as brick tombs or Han tombs, were relatively common in areas along major rivers and waterways, including the Luc Dau Giang, Bach Dang, Y Bich and Lam rivers, which served as links between settlements and the sea.

In Nghe An, archaeologists have recorded similar sites in the former Nam Loc area, now Van An Commune; the former Nam Kim area, now Thien Nhan Commune; and the former Kim Lien area, now Kim Lien Commune.

Compared with previously studied brick tombs, particularly the Nam Loc tomb in Van An and the Nui Chung tomb in Kim Lien, the two Ru But tombs share similarities in their layouts, excavation methods and construction of the burial chambers.

“These are among the few brick tombs that had not been disturbed before being exposed. This provides accurate information about how burial objects were arranged inside the burial chambers,” Anh said.

Based on the stratigraphy, location, structure, construction techniques and artifacts recovered, the excavation team initially determined that the two brick tombs were built during the Six Dynasties period, between the fourth and sixth centuries.

The excavation team recommended temporarily covering and backfilling the site to protect it from environmental impacts and human activity.

Researchers also recommended that Nghe An authorities develop a comprehensive research, investigation and survey program for archaeological sites in the area.

The study should not be limited to the Ru But brick tomb site and its surroundings but should cover related archaeological, historical and cultural sites throughout the Lam River basin.

Depending on research findings and practical conditions, authorities could consider re-exposing the site in the future, together with appropriate measures for conservation, protective roofing and promotion of its heritage value in connection with the local community.