Numerous rare Champa artifacts have been found at the excavation site ofChampa tower relics in the Rung Cam forest of this central province.
DinhBa Hoa, director of the Binh Dinh Museum , said the excavationwork has unearthed about 600 artifacts, including a broken Kala (timegod) statue, Shiva god's hand, Champa reliefs and ancient terracottaartifacts.
Hoa revealed that the terracotta items showed signs ofVietnamese, Cham and Chinese origins. The items also include bronzeartifacts that have never been seen at Champa tower relics.
Excavationfor the artifacts, dating from the 12th to the 13th centuries, wascarried out at the province's Binh Nghi commune from August till earlythis month.
In 1989, local residents' illegal excavationsuncovered two complete artifacts of the Mahishasura Mardini goddessrelief and a stone altar foundation. The two, now preserved at BinhDinh Museum , are said to be of high artistic and sculptural value.
Thegoddess relief features the Mahishasura Mardini in a dance with her 10hands, holding holy weapons used to kill monsters. Meanwhile, theround-shaped altar foundation resembles an ancient Vietnamese bronzedrum decorated with carvings of lotus flowers on its sides.
Hoa said the province has a total of 52 Champa relics that required more research on their value.
BinhDinh is also the locality with the largest number of Champa heritagesites, including the Champa capital, Vijaya, which thrived from the 11thto the 15th centuries and lies in what is now An Nhon district, 27kmnorthwest of Quy Nhon city; and a total of 14 Champa towers, all invarious sizes, shapes and decorations, scattered throughout theprovince.-VNA
DinhBa Hoa, director of the Binh Dinh Museum , said the excavationwork has unearthed about 600 artifacts, including a broken Kala (timegod) statue, Shiva god's hand, Champa reliefs and ancient terracottaartifacts.
Hoa revealed that the terracotta items showed signs ofVietnamese, Cham and Chinese origins. The items also include bronzeartifacts that have never been seen at Champa tower relics.
Excavationfor the artifacts, dating from the 12th to the 13th centuries, wascarried out at the province's Binh Nghi commune from August till earlythis month.
In 1989, local residents' illegal excavationsuncovered two complete artifacts of the Mahishasura Mardini goddessrelief and a stone altar foundation. The two, now preserved at BinhDinh Museum , are said to be of high artistic and sculptural value.
Thegoddess relief features the Mahishasura Mardini in a dance with her 10hands, holding holy weapons used to kill monsters. Meanwhile, theround-shaped altar foundation resembles an ancient Vietnamese bronzedrum decorated with carvings of lotus flowers on its sides.
Hoa said the province has a total of 52 Champa relics that required more research on their value.
BinhDinh is also the locality with the largest number of Champa heritagesites, including the Champa capital, Vijaya, which thrived from the 11thto the 15th centuries and lies in what is now An Nhon district, 27kmnorthwest of Quy Nhon city; and a total of 14 Champa towers, all invarious sizes, shapes and decorations, scattered throughout theprovince.-VNA