An exhibition about the ancient carved rock field in Sapa, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, Vietnam will take place at the Vasterrbotten Museum in Sweden from September 27 to November 8. The event is co-organised by the Hanoi University of Art and the Swedish Umea Art Institute to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Sweden relations.
The Hanoi Art University have made surveys and produced 150 large-sized photos about the ancient rock field in Sapa since 2003. In 2006, the “Sapa ancient rock field” exhibition was held in Hanoi, using these materials and some artworks by foreign painters, which have close connection to the ancient figures carved on Sapa ancient rocks. The Hanoi Art University’s materials will be displayed at the exhibition in Sweden.
The 4 km by 2 km field of ancient carved rocks in Sapa includes more than 159 slabs of ancient stone located in Muong Hoa valley in Hau Tao and Ta Van communes. It was discovered in 1925 by V. Goloubew, a French scholar of Russian descent.
Among the patterns carved on the rocks are circles, parallel lines, squares, rectangles, humans and writings. The secrets of the stone field have been researched by scientists and historians who are now studying the meanings of the carvings and odd patterns on the rock. The field has been compared to famous ancient stone fields such as Oraibi Arizone in the U.S, Ause vik in Norway, Alessur Anglin in France, Toromuerto in Peru, Twyfelo Fontein in Namibia, Helen Shan in China and Valiamonnica in Italy.
