Conference: Identifying the global outstanding value of the Co Loa Relic Site
WVR - The scientific conference on the Co Loa Relic Site will focus on identifying, debating, and refining scientific arguments regarding its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to support the process of preparing the World Heritage nomination dossier.
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On August 12, in Hanoi, the People's Committee of Hanoi, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center will collaborate with the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to organize the scientific conference "Identifying the Global Outstanding Value of the Co Loa Relic Site".
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| Co Loa was once the capital of the Au Lac State under King An Duong Vuong around the 3rd century BC and is associated with the era of Ngo Quyen in the 10th century. |
The conference aims to continue researching, exchanging, and clarifying scientific arguments about the Outstanding Universal Value of the Co Loa Relic Site, thereby providing a scientific basis for completing the Summary Report for UNESCO to consider including the Co Loa Relic Site in the Tentative List of World Heritage nominations. Additionally, the conference will guide research, conservation, and promotion of heritage values in the new phase.
The conference is expected to be attended by leaders of Hanoi city; representatives from central ministries, departments, and agencies, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, heritage management agencies; research institutes, universities; domestic experts, scientists, as well as representatives of local authorities and related units.
Co Loa - A special vestige of nation building
Co Loa holds a special position in the history of nation-building and defense of the Vietnamese people. It was once the capital of the Au Lac State under King An Duong Vuong around the 3rd century BC and is associated with the era of Ngo Quyen in the 10th century.
Not only a political, military, and cultural center through various historical periods, Co Loa also preserves a large-scale fortification system, unique construction techniques, and an interconnected water moat network. The residential, religious, and community life spaces have been preserved and inherited over more than two millennia, creating a heritage complex of special value.
These values reflect the formation of an early state and the development of the Red River civilization in Vietnam, providing a basis for research and comparison with similar heritages in the region and the world.
Following the directives of competent authorities on preparing the scientific dossier for the Co Loa Relic Site to request UNESCO's inscription on the World Heritage List, Hanoi city has gradually implemented tasks to prepare the dossier.
According to the requirements of the World Heritage Convention, the nomination dossier must clarify the Outstanding Universal Value of the heritage based on persuasive scientific arguments, exchanged and evaluated by the domestic and international scientific community.
Focusing on arguments according to UNESCO criteria
The conference is an interdisciplinary scientific forum, focusing on exchanging, publishing, and discussing research results on Co Loa from various perspectives such as archaeology, history, geology, geomorphology, environment, planning, and heritage conservation.
Based on comparison with UNESCO criteria, the conference focuses on debating and refining the scientific argument system regarding the Outstanding Universal Value of the Co Loa Relic Site, emphasizing arguments according to criteria (iii) and (iv), laying the foundation for further completing the World Heritage nomination dossier.
The conference begins with a general report on the main contents of the Draft Summary Report of the Co Loa Relic Site submitted to UNESCO, initially proposing arguments about the Outstanding Universal Value and identifying content that needs further exchange and debate.
Session 1, themed "Co Loa - The Convergence and Spread Center of the Red River Civilization," focuses on the natural conditions, geomorphology, and hydrology in the formation of the Co Loa capital; the role of An Duong Vuong and the Au Lac State; archaeological research results; the continuity, authenticity, and integrity of the archaeological site system, typical artifacts, and the historical and cultural values of the relic site.
Session 2, themed "Co Loa Relic Site - Identifying Global Outstanding Values," focuses on exchanging, debating, and refining the argument system about OUV; clarifying values regarding planning, landscape organization, fortification construction techniques, traditional festival systems; and discussing the preparation of the Summary Report submitted to UNESCO, as well as issues of conservation and promoting heritage values associated with sustainable development.
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Through presentations and in-depth discussion sessions, the conference aims to supplement the scientific basis for completing the Summary Report submitted to UNESCO for consideration of including Co Loa in the Tentative List of World Heritage nominations; at the same time, propose directions for research, conservation, management, and promotion of heritage values in line with the requirements of the World Heritage Convention.
The conference also contributes to enhancing coordination between state management agencies, research institutions, universities, experts, and the scientific community in the process of building the nomination dossier, thereby continuing to clarify the value of Co Loa in the historical and cultural context of the region and the world, creating a foundation for sustainable heritage conservation and promotion.
