Preliminary Results of Post-Excavation Analysis of Pre-Dong Son Burials and Human Skeletal Remains at the Vuon Chuoi Site (2024 Excavations)

Chu Lam Anh

The Vuon Chuoi archaeological site (Hanoi) is an important site in the Red River Delta that reflects a continuous sequence of cultural development from the Late Prehistoric to the Early Historic periods. During the 2024 excavation season, a burial area dating to the Pre-Dong Son period was discovered, comprising 79 graves, including 56 graves attributed to the Late Phung Nguyen culture, 22 graves belonging to the Pre-Dong Son period, and one grave associated with both the Pre-Dong Son and Dong Son periods. This burial assemblage provides valuable bioarchaeological material for the study of ancient populations in the northern Red River Delta. This paper presents preliminary results from the curation and analysis of human skeletal remains recovered from these burials, including their archaeological context, spatial distribution, and preservation conditions. Bone preservation is uneven and has been significantly affected by excavation processes, particularly during the recovery and initial storage of skeletal materials, leading to discrepancies between field descriptions and the inventory obtained during post-excavation curation. Based on skeletal remains preserving key anatomical elements, the study provides preliminary estimates of the minimum number of individuals and tentative assessments of sex and age at death. Several pathological indicators were recorded, including dental wear, skeletal abnormalities, and notably tooth ablation, a cultural practice documented among prehistoric populations in the region. Future research will incorporate three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (3D GM), skeletal biomechanical analysis, and stable isotope analysis to investigate locomotor adaptation, diet, and environmental conditions. The Vuon Chuoi skeletal assemblage offers important potential for reconstructing population structure, lifeways, and behavioural patterns of Pre-Dong Son communities in the regional context.