A display of some relics allegedly belonging to ancient humans living around 80,000 years ago in the northern province Gia Lai. Photo: Tran Hieu

In what has been described as a breakthrough, Vietnamese and Russian archaeologists have found valuable artifacts in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai that they say belonged to ancient humans around 800,000 years ago.

The traces of homo erectus or "upright man," including fossils and more than 200 stone tools, were discovered at 12 locations around An Khe Town, according to the findings announced by the scientists on Friday.

It was "the biggest and most important" archeological discovery not only for Vietnam but Asia, Dr. Nguyen Giang Hai, chief of Vietnam's Institute of Archeology, told Tuoi Tre newspaper.

The Russian team worked with the Vietnamese institute on the two-year excavation. The archaeologists are expected to organize an international conference to publish the findings to the world.

Huynh Nu Thu Ha, vice chairwoman of the People's Committee of Gia Lai, said the province will launch a project to preserve the relic sites.