The research of rice seeds collected from Hanoi’s Thanh Den citadel, which were believed to be 3,000 years old, will stop because they are not ancient rice, said an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Rice grains at the Thanh Den archaeological site in Me Linh District were tested in Japan, using an age-validating Tantedron AMS machine using C14 technology, and were found to not be 3,000 years old.

The carbon isotopic testing results were announced by Dr Lam Thi My Dung from the Hanoi National University’s History Department, who was in charge of the excavation at Thanh Den site.

In May 2010 the grains had caused a widespread sensation when, thought to be 3,000 years old, they sprouted after being soaked in water for two days.

“There is nothing miraculous about these grains as they seem to have accidentally fallen into the Thanh Den site,” said Nguyen Tri Ngoc, director of the MARD’s Cultivation Department.

MARD initially questioned the findings though they committed to further scientific research to validate or dispute the archaeologists’ discovery with Ngoc recognizing that “no such case exists anywhere in the world.”

Dr Le Huy Ham, head of MARD’s Agricultural Genetics Institute – directly involved in caring for and cultivating the “ancient rice grains” – confirmed the results of the carbon isotopic testing, deeming the previous assumption a result of archaeological error and announced a halt of all research.

Dr. Pham Xuan Hoi from the Agricultural Genetics Institute said that these grains are similar to modern rice variety named Khang Dan 18.

Scientists explained that even the most modern technology can only preserve seeds that can sprout after a maximum of 50-100 years.

Thanh Den is a well-known Vietnamese archaeological site. Seven excavations have taken place there since 2001.

PV