Seventeen years ago, when clearing to hand over the construction site in Cai Hamlet, Ward 8, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, construction workers discovered a cluster of ancient graves located in this area.
Seventeen years ago, when clearing to hand over the construction site in Cai Hamlet, Ward 8, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, construction workers discovered a cluster of ancient graves located in this area.
The above information quickly attracted the attention of archaeologists, historical researchers and the media… The almost intact mummy of a woman became a hot topic of discussion for a time. More than a decade passed, everything began to slip into oblivion…
This report will recreate both ancient stories and the latest details about this mysterious mummy.
Royal tomb
In January 1994, during the renovation of small cemeteries and burial mounds to match the general urban architecture, many workers began excavating 16 individual graves in the Cai neighborhood, District 1. 5.
Other graves were carried out normally, until the group of workers encountered a grave located in a hundred square meter area with a structure as sturdy as a communal house.
The historical data of the Vietnam History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City records very meticulously the structure of this tomb. The rectangular tomb ring is 10m long, 6m wide, 1.2m high, and 0.8m thick. The three-entrance gate has a round face, decorated with lotus buds on the top of the column. The gate is 1.4m high, 0.8m wide and 0.6m high, built with a curved dome lined with faux tube tiles decorated with dragons. The altar is a large area of land 6m long and 4m wide…
The tomb mound is a large compound 3.6m long, 3m wide, 3.2m high consisting of 2 parts: the front part has a tombstone sunk into the compound and the back part is decorated with patterns, each side is painted. large round face. The writing on the tombstone has been worn away, only the three words Ky Ty Nien can still be read.
Conducting excavations by leveling the mound, archaeologists discovered two graves. Includes one male grave and one female grave.
The mummy is displayed in the museum’s new space.
The male grave is 2.3m long, 0.8m wide, 1.56m deep, from the mouth of the grave to the bottom of the grave is covered with many layers of compound. Notably, there is a thin layer of sand covering the wooden sarcophagus. The sarcophagus and coffin still have the original black paint, inside the coffin there are a few bones and artifacts, such as: 7 gold rings with stone faces, paper fans, combs, tubes and copper betel picks, boxes. silver with flat spherical chain carved with leaf wire, gold-plated buttons, quill pen
Female graves are a little smaller than male graves. The sarcophagus and coffin were still intact. After opening the sarcophagus and then opening the coffin board, archaeologists saw that the inside was arranged very neatly. Above are two sedge mats spread out to cover the surface of the coffin. These two mats still retain their fresh color.
Below the two sedge mats, is a layer of paper, each roll about 10cm thick, spread evenly. Next, is a million leaf (possibly a flag leaf – PV) made of silk, on the silk surface there are many Chinese characters, but because the solution blurred the text, archaeologists can only read 4 words with the meaning: “…Royal Shroud”.
Next, is a layer of circular fabric tied with 9 knots, also spread evenly over the surface of the coffin. Most likely, these 9 knots represent women according to the belief “For men, there are nine for women” (Boy 7, Girl 9).
The main part is a large, long bundle wrapped in silk and brocade, with 9 fabric straps also tied in 9 knots. After removing this layer of fabric, the archaeologists were extremely surprised to discover that the woman’s body was almost intact, with her hair still black.
The only thing is, the eyeballs and nose cartilage have decomposed, the skin, joints, muscles… are still soft and pale in color. Below this woman’s feet is a pair of burlap shoes embroidered with brocade, next to another pair of shoes.
The mummy was wrapped in dozens of layers of fabric sewn into a shirt, pants made of silk and brocade, and a loose shirt with diagonal buttons. Buttons are made of agate and gold-plated metal.
On this mummy’s neck there is a necklace made of Bodhi seeds, a small brocade bag inside with an envelope containing 3 sheets of paper written in Chinese characters, including 1 sheet to record the Pure Land Mantra, and 1 sheet to write the name. five Buddhas and another piece of paper with the meaning of taking refuge. On the mummy’s wrists, there are two gold metal bracelets.
Under the cloth that wrapped the body was a layer of resin about 10cm thick. Finally, there is a wooden board with 7 round holes in the shape of Seven Stars a few centimeters away from the board. With this piece of wood, a coffin with two bottoms was created.
All of these items are soaked in a layer of red, fragrant, slightly slimy solution.
In the photo taken while unwrapping the body, it also shows that this layer of dark red solution is very thick and has a thick paste-like feel.
After preliminary examination, this mummy was transferred to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital for further research and testing. Next, archaeologists transferred the mummy to the Vietnam History Museum. And from then until now, the above mummy has been kept at this place.
The burial items plus the words “Royal Shroud”, next to the location of the tomb and the structure above the grave, allow us to identify that this is the tomb of two royalties of the Nguyen Dynasty. The date is determined to be during the reign of King Tu Duc.
Ancient mummy code
Based on the relics found in the female tomb, archaeologists temporarily accept the view of this mummy’s identity. Her name is Nguyen Thi Hieu, she is likely to die at the age of 60.
The preservation of Ms. Hieu’s mummy is to prolong the funeral week, which is only done in the upper classes, for royal families. Next, analyzing the refuge leaflet and the remaining Chinese characters in the piece of silk covering the coffin, one can be satisfied with the conclusion: “Mrs. Hieu’s Dharma name is Minh Truong. The monk who preached to her was called Minh Truong. Zen Master Chanh Niem, whose last name is Tien Lieu, belongs to the 37th generation of the Bon Nguyen sect, the Lam Te sect. Most likely, she is the daughter-in-law or maternal relative of lords or kings of the Nguyen Dynasty.
The shoes of an ancient mummy.
When excavating the above ancient tomb, archaeologists determined that the materials used to build the tomb were very sophisticated. It is a mixture of crushed quicklime from coral and seashells mixed with sand, sugar cane molasses, charcoal and some other substances that have not yet been analyzed. All this mixture when mixed together becomes a strong structure that is “harder than concrete”.
To protect the mummy, Ms. Hieu’s family may have used this compound to pour into a unified and extremely solid block that covered the entire grave, deep to the bottom of the grave. When excavating, archaeologists had to rely on the strength of 15 workers to chisel each small piece of this structure, chiseling for 40 days to reach the about 40cm thick layer of sand covering the coffin’s sarcophagus.
Famous archaeologist Do Dinh Truat, who was present from beginning to end to supervise and learn about the excavation of the ancient tomb, described the tomb and the mummy’s background in detail.
According to documents by archaeologist Do Dinh Truat, the coffin is covered with a very thick wooden sarcophagus, 0.5m high and 2.2m long. The entire sarcophagus and coffin are covered with ancient paint, very fine and tight like a layer of tar. Thanks to this layer of paint, rainwater seeping into the ground cannot seep into the coffin and the embalming solution does not spill out.
The fact that the solution does not spill outside helps the body of the dead person to be well preserved. That is the reason why Ms. Nguyen Thi Hieu’s body was almost intact, while the body of the next grave (most likely Ms. Hieu’s husband) had the solution overflowed so only bones remained. .
The remaining pair of shoes placed next to Ms. Hieu’s feet were made of very good material, possibly a type of silk fabric. The body of the comedy is decorated with thin gold threads, attached together to form a daisy shape, and tied together with thin gold braids.
The fact that the wooden board below the coffin in Ms. Hieu’s grave was punched with 7 holes according to the Big Dipper constellation is very similar to the ancient tombs of royal concubines and kings once excavated in the area. North. The concept of the Big Dipper constellation comes from Taoism, the ancients believed that the above constellation would protect the souls of the dead from the disasters of life in the underworld.
Regarding the solution that covered Ms. Hieu’s mummy, the museum tour guide told me that it was made from a solution of O Duoc mortar and resin. O Duoc mortar in the North is also called dodder resin, a natural compound with very high adhesion.
Archaeologist Do Van Ninh wrote that these preservation methods have kept the ancient tombs almost intact, including the coffins and buried relics. Even fresh areca pieces, betel pieces, medicine boxes, paper fans, rosaries… all have colors like new, feeling like you can pick them up with your fingers and use them.
After being penetrated by air, Ms. Hieu’s body was no longer as soft as when it was covered by the solution. Observing her body in a glass cage at the Museum, we saw that her body had become as dry as a piece of dried areca nut. Only on his head, there is still a tuft of long black hair, fluttering. Her eye sockets and nose were almost completely decomposed.
A few years ago, when I visited the Museum, I also saw her burial items. But now, Ms. Hieu’s body has been placed in another room, more beautiful, more airy… but due to the structure of the room, these items no longer have space for display and must be kept in the house. Museum warehouse.
The old man’s skull fragments are also stored in this warehouse. Periodically, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hieu’s body will be taken out of the closed cage to be preserved with modern chemicals. It is possible that after many… hundreds of years, her body will decompose on its own (?!).
It can be said that Ms. Hieu’s almost intact mummy is a very unique mummy that archaeologists accidentally discovered in Saigon. As for further verification of Ms. Hieu’s identity, perhaps we still have to wait. Including origin, place of residence, family, rank, relationship with the Gia Long dynasty…
Going deep into the world of mummies and ancient tombs, interacting with veteran scientists and archaeologists, we can fully see the mystery of mummies in the South. We will continue to publish and try to explain the mystery of the mummy code to readers.
The mystery of rosin
Talking to reporters, famous archaeologist Do Dinh Truat added:
As soon as we removed the layers of Ms. Hieu’s shroud, we were surprised to discover that her body was as beautiful as a girl’s. Although the skin becomes pale due to time.
The jewelry Mrs. Hieu brought with her when she died was likely donated by Chenla to the Nguyen court. The Nguyen king gave it to his relatives, so she had it. I believe, Mrs. Hieu is the younger sister of Nguyen Phuc Luan, father of Nguyen Anh, aka Gia Long. Considering that she was the biological aunt of King Gia Long, that’s why her tomb is so massive.
According to my survey, Ms. Hieu became a nun at a very young age, so she could not have a husband. The tomb is called his tomb, I don’t know. But, there is an important detail that cannot be missed: when excavating Ms. Hieu’s ancient tomb, we broke
