Rua Isle - An archaeological relic dating from thousands of years ago

Rua (turtle) isle is surrounded by gentle Dong Nai Rriver. This is also a land having a long-standing culture. Archaeologists discovered an archaeological relic dating back 3,000-3,500 years on this isle.

Relics of thousands of years old

Rua isle is a place name, now this isle is in Thanh Hoi commune, Tan Uyen town. Rua isle is embraced by the main stream of Dong Nai River and a branch of this river. From above, the isle looks like a turtle, so it is called Rua (turtle) isle.

On this isle, there is a hill of about 15m high (like a turtle shell). On the hill top, there is an ancient temple dating from about 200 years ago - Khanh Son Pagoda.

Since 1888, a French archaeologist named E.Cartailhac discovered this monument. A year later, information about the Rua isle was published by E.T.Hamy on a journal of Paris Museum of Natural History. Later, many French archaeologists came to this isle to unearth more relics, mainly were stoneware and pottery.

In 2003, after many surveys, Archaeological Research Center of Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Social Sciences cooperated with Binh Duong Provincial Museum to conduct a large-scale excavation on Rua isle. Then, the archaeologists discovered from the ground many artifacts of long historical and cultural value, containing many scientific information. Including elephant teeth, 1,254 stone and terracotta artifacts, such as axes, grinding tables, molds, chisels, bracelets, ceramic balls, plucked string... and many other burial items. From ceramic fragments obtained in this excavation, the researchers mounted, restored its shape and had more ceramic artifacts, such as casket bowls, pots, tall plates, large bowls, jars... Records of Provincial Museum show that there were more than 85,900 pieces of pottery and more than 6,790 pieces of burial ceramics.

In addition to many stone tools and thousands of broken pottery pieces found during this excavation, there were also 12 graves in the relic. This was a new discovery of archaeological science at that time. From these archaeological results and a later research, Rua isle was not only a residential relic, but also a burial ground. The monument is dated by archaeologists to 3,000-3,500 years ago.

A precious material source

Discoveries on Rua isle opened up to scientists a new approach to burial rituals, economic, cultural and social life of ancient prehistoric inhabitants on this land.  These are also important evidences of an ancient culture that has existed for thousands of years in Binh Duong. The results of this excavation have proved that Binh Duong is a land with a long history and culture. Not only for Binh Duong, the discovery of Rua isle has also helped scientists have more important evidence in the study of prehistoric archeology in the Southeast region.

With the immense value discovered here, in 2009, Rua isle was classified as a national monument. Along with the relics that have existed for hundreds of years here, Rua isle is known as a land with a long-standing history and culture. Including Nhut Thanh temple, which is about 100 meters away from Rua isle, was also recognized as a provincial monument at the end of 2019.

The way to this isle is now more convenient since the appearance of Thanh Hoi bridge crossing the river. Uninterrupted traffic makes people's lives here be better. The cultural and historical values of this land is the hidden power, further motivate the development of the island.

Reported by Cam Ly - Translated by Ngoc Huynh