Sapa ancient carved rock spreads out on the territory of three communes of Ta Van, Hau Thao and Su Pan. It is located in Muong Hoa valley with an area of about 8 km2. Located on the steep winding mountain road, ancient rock carving ground is consisted of 159 small and large boulders alternating in trees, near the side of the road or in water rice paddies.
They are initially not impressive at all. But when you are getting off the bus, walking along with the guide to hear the introduction by firsthand, examining the rocks, visitors can be amazed at how the artificial life long creations that there are not any satisfactory answers.
Sapa ancient carved rocks stretched on the territory of three communes: Ta Van, Hau Thao and Su Pan, located in Muong Hoa valley with an area of about 8 km2
Situated right on winding mountain road, it includes 159 ancient carved rocks mixed in tree leaves, located adjacent to the road or between rice paddies, initially not impressed. But when getting off, stepping away according to the tour guide to listen to the introduction and consider the rocks, visitors really amazed at this artificial wonders.
Although Sa Pa is not the only place discovered engraved stones, because in the world, it has dozens of similar places. But for Vietnam, this is still a wonderful thing, demonstrating ancient humans has clung firmly on the ground to survive and grow. If only comment on the concentrations of rocks, Ta Van carved rocks deserve top ratings. 159 rocks regardless rain or shine,remaining impassive and clearly etched graphics. Look closely at the steles, we can recognize the shapes as squares, rectangles, sharp singlet, doublet, parallel lines and cross lines, human figures, birds and animals, scenes of living … There are ways to predict and explain which is the map, which is recorded in wealth, the weather, the notion of ancient life.
Recently, the researchers focused on understanding the scenes of living carved on the rocks. In particular, male and female lovemaking scenes to maintain and develop the breed is described quite familiar, which has similarities with some bronze artifacts dating back 2500-2600 years ago were found in Vietnam. It is the expression with the cult “linga – yoni” (male genital- female genital), express traditional beliefs very natural, rustic of ancient Vietnamese. Thus, it is possible to estimate the age of the etchings, drawings on rocks in Sapa is around 2500 years. Through which, we can see the hand and the mind of Vietnamese people was quite developed.
Sapa ancient rock dumps was only discovered in 1923 by the French famous oceanographic named Vichto Golubep (Victor Goloubev). After that, many Western researchers have come here to learn and introduce Sapa ancient rocks widely in the media. With foreign tourists, especially the French, once to Sapa, they often take every hour, every day to stay here for a view, compare with the carved stone monument in Sereda Capivara (Brazil) , Boyne (Ireland). Matopo (Zimbabwe) or at some place over the vast Sahara desert..