Urbanism and Suburban Life at the Tenth-Century Imperial Capital of Hoa Lu, Northern Vietnam

Scott Macrae1*, Gyles Iannone1, NGUYỄN Thị Hảo2, VÕ Thị Phương Thúy2, Jack Barry3, and LÊ Ngọc Hân2

Excavations at the tenth-century imperial capital of Hoa Lu have uncovered evidence of a house lot situated just outside the walled inner-city. The Ba Ngo residential site contains diverse material evidence of both domestic life and specialized production. Architectural remains, such as raised earthen platforms, drainage systems, a smelting furnace, and post-piers, indicate planned and sustained occupation. Radiocarbon dates and artifact analysis demonstrate that the site was inhabited during the Dinh-Early Le Phase (968-1009 CE) and reoccupied in the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400 CE). These results contribute to a revised understanding of Hoa Lu as an imperial capital by demonstrating the presence of what may be a multifaceted suburban community outside the citadel area. More broadly, this study highlights the importance of suburban populations in shaping urban traditions in early Southeast Asia.