Residents in Huong Lam commune, Hiep Hoa district (Bac Giang province), recently unearthed a unique square-shaped structure made of wood, believed to be an ancient spiral well, during a renovation of their village well.

The discovery took place in Hac Lam village, where villagers were improving the old well located within the grounds of the Hac Lam communal house and temple complex.

While excavating, they encountered wooden reinforcements forming a spiral shape within the square structure. So far, they have dug to a depth of approximately 3 meters but have yet to reach the bottom.

Local authorities and residents have since erected a protective barrier around the site to prevent damage and ensure preservation.

Speaking with VietNamNet, village head Nguyen The Dinh confirmed the discovery and said the well had once served as a vital water source for the community.

“According to village elders, this well was used for daily activities before families had access to modern water systems. Over time, it degraded and came to resemble a pond,” Dinh explained.

Villagers were surprised to find a spiral wooden structure deep inside the well - something none of the elders had heard of before.

“Before 1980, we used this well for daily water needs. I grew up thinking the bottom of a well was flat. No one ever told me about a spiral wooden structure inside,” one elderly resident shared. “This could mean the well is extremely old.”

The discovery has been reported to the Huong Lam commune authorities. The local government has instructed residents to halt further renovation and preserve the site while awaiting guidance from higher authorities.

Nguyen Dinh Hau, a local man who was directly involved in the well renovation after receiving permission from the commune, recalled the moment of discovery.

“I’ve worked on many well renovations before, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. As they dug deeper, they noticed layers of wood arranged in a spiraling pattern. Hau immediately informed authorities and stopped the work.

Dr. Pham Van Trieu, Deputy Head of the Historical Archaeology Department at the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology, said he had reviewed the images of the square, spiral-structured well from Hac Lam.

“At this point, we cannot determine its exact age without radiocarbon dating (C14) on the wood samples,” Dr. Trieu explained. He added that researchers must also study the local lifestyle and traditional well-digging methods to provide an accurate assessment.

According to Dr. Trieu, the square-shaped structure is indeed unique. However, such designs are uncommon in the Red River Delta region, where circular wells are more typical. Square wells are more characteristic of central Vietnam, particularly in areas ranging from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan.