The province plans a scientific study of the cave, which will be submitted to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) for assessments.

According to associate professor of the Vietnam Archaeological Institute in Hanoi, Nguyen Khac Su, the cave is special thanks to its layers of rock preserve evidence of human evolution from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic Era-man’s progress from hunter-gathers to farmers. Excavations show that primitive men lived in a 100sq.m area of the dry and airy cave.

Archaeologists discovered the Con Moong Cave in 1974. Its name means the Cave of Beast in the language of the Muong people, who make up 99 percent of the local area’s population. The name is inspired by the cave’s two gaping mouths, which take the shape of animal’s head.

The cave, which is in Thanh Yen Commune, Thach Thanh District of Thanh Hoa province, provided shelter to the people of three separate prehistoric cultures, namely the Son Vi, the Hoa Binh and the Bac Son.

A lack of attention and money meant the 30m wide, 10m high cave was abandoned after its discovery. UNESCO recognition will help safeguard the cave’s unique historical and scientific value and encourage more study of the site, said the provincial authorities.