VietNamNet Bridge - The Seabed Exploration company has recently said that they know of at least 40 wrecks under Vietnam’s sea with antiques. Pham Quoc Quan, Director of the Vietnam Museum of History, who proposed the establishment of the Aquatic Archaeology Centre, talked with Tien Phong.

Why do you think of an aquatic archaeology centre?

Five ancient boats have been excavated in Vietnam, information released in newspapers, data of international agencies and the written history has shown the role and position of Vietnam’s sea on the silk and pottery road many centuries ago.

It proves the exchanges between Eastern and Western civilisations and urges us to have an aquatic archaeology agency to monitor research and excavations of ancient boats under the sea of Vietnam.

In recent years, many international organisations have called for cooperation to excavate ancient boats. We have more than 3,000km of coast so sea assets would be very valuable. Scholar Le Quy Don mentioned in his book that the people in O Cap (Vung Tau) lived by hunting items in the sea.

Where should the centre be built?

We can learn from the models of many countries like Thailand, the Philippines, China or the UK. Those centres are often located at favourable sites, which are not far from sea.

In Vietnam, I think we should base the centre in Vung Tau city. Along with the centre, we can build an underwater heritages or maritime museum, which will surely attract visitors.

Does Vietnam’s sea have many wrecks with valuable antiques?

Vietnam’s sea has been very bustling during all historical periods, with long-standing maritime activities. I predict that there are many wrecks under Vietnam’s sea. According to the Seabed Exploration Company, Vietnam has around 40 wrecks that are be able to be excavated.

What do we have to do to protect wrecks which have been found and those that will be found?

I’ve suggested the establishment of an aquatic archaeology centre and I will follow through on this idea to meet the necessity of the fact and I hope that relevant bodies will support my idea.

We need to quickly develop a law on sea heritage. A clear legal corridor and an underwater archaeology centre will facilitate the reporting of wrecks.

The underwater archaeology centre of Thailand has drawn an archaeological map of the Thailand Bay. This is an achievement which helps this country have excavation plans and to protect wrecks from the destruction of fishermen.

We don’t have such a centre so the excavation of wrecks must go through foreign companies that are not related to archaeology.

The most important issue for such a centre is human resources. Training of an underwater archaeologist is as complicated as the training of a pilot. Underwater archaeologists in Southeast Asian countries are mainly trained in the US, Australia or the UK.

We should also send aquatic archaeologists abroad for training. At least after five years we would have a contingent of aquatic archaeologists.

If the centre is established, the foreign factor will be gradually reduced and the pressure on sharing and selling antiques would be reduced.

I hope that this centre will come in the near future; otherwise we will lose advantages in the integration period.

(Source: Tien phong)