The Formation of the Vietnamese Settlements

Abstract

Bach Coc settlement is located along the right riverbank of the old Coc River, a branch of the Nam Dinh River in the lower region of the Red River Plain, and shows elongate shape in plan like “S” character and approximate 2, 000 people resides in the settlement. Both the east neighbored settlement Phu Coc and north neighbored settlement, Tan Coc show well-ordered square shaped in plan. West neighbored settlement Duong Lai, is also elongate in plan.Geological and archaeological research confirmed the first human occupation go back to the marine regression period in the Late Holocene. The small-scale excavation research at Bach Coc, Duong Lai and Phuc Coc combining together with surface survey revealed various occupation evidence like burial, residence, hearth, ritual feature and intensive waste of the habitation remains. Heaping soil for heightening in altitude is also frequent observed archaeological features, which was aimed for higher residence avoiding flood water.Detailed glazed ceramic chronology revealed occupational frequencies at the studied area and two epoch-making periods can be pointed out. The first is the 13th century, which made possible the first stable and vast habitation in this area. This may be related to the first large-scale dyke construction in the Red River plain Furthermore very possibly some descendants of the settlers in this period still resided in Bach Coc and economic prosperity indicated by the artifacts in the 14th and 15th century can be related to taking advantage of the riverine transportation and the appearance of the leading lineage which turn out some high official in the central courts. The second is the 17th century with an expansion of Bach Coc settlement and re-establishment of the Phu Coc and Tan Coc settlements, which were probably caused by enclosure type dyke system after the large flooding. The ancestral type of the present villages can be dated to the 17th century.Archaeological research combining geological, geographical and historical research will provide new understanding of the Vietnamese settlement formation history.