Co Loa is an important archaeological site of the Iron Age Dong Son culture of Vietnam. It was the capital of the Bac Bo region, and occupied from the 3rd century BC and into the first century AD. Its massive defensive structures include enormous enclosing walls and ramparts.
Excavation Trench at Co Loa. Photo courtesy Nam C. Kim ©
Co Loa's leaders were of the Van Lang family, the first ruling dynasty of Vietnam, and their relationship to the powerful Han Dynasty of China is one recorded in historical texts in China and Vietnam both. The combination of historical and archaeological records suggests that what the Han were prone to call "barbarians" were instead civilized people who established the massive walls and ramparts to stave off the incursions of the Han.
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