Binh Dinh (VNS/VNA) – Thousands of ceramic objects were unearthed at an excavation sitein the central province of Binh Dinh, scientists confirmed at a workshop heldin the province on June 28.

Researcher Pham Van Toi, former Vice Rector of Institute of Imperial CitadelStudies, said in an area of 100sq.m. at Cay Me Hill in Nhon My commune, An Nhontown, the excavation team discovered four pottery kilns of the Cham ethnicminority group.

“More than 23,000 ceramic and pottery utensils, building materials, statues andworking tools were found at the site,” he said.

According to scientists, the area used to be a ceramic-producing centre of theCham people during the 14-15th century.

Toi suggests further excavation at the site to understand more about the centreand its role in the then society.

The excavation was carried out by Binh Dinh General Musuem and the institute.

At the same workshop, scientists also reported an excavation of the Cha RayTowers Complex, a monument built by the Cham people on a hill in An Nhon town.

Thousands of ceremic wares have been found at four ancient pottery kilns of theCham ethnic minority group in Binh Dinh province.

Toi said the site used to host a complex of three towers. Over time, thecomplex had been damaged and abandoned, and the local people took bricks fromthe site to build houses, damaging the site more severely. Today, the site is amassive pile of damaged bricks.

Toi said the main tower was located at the peak of the hill, with thefoundation measuring 20m in length. Two smaller towers are located to the eastof the main tower. They have a foundation measuring 10m in length.

The complex was built in Cham style in the 12-13th century, the same era inwhich other famous Cham towers in the province were built, including the CanhTien Tower, Banh It Tower, Doi Tower and Duong Long Tower.

More than 10,400 objects, mostly tiles, bricks and decorative patterns made ofbaked clay, were discovered at the site.

“Results of the excavation at the complex will be used for further research atthe site and will serve as the foundation for general cultural research on Champaculture in Binh Dinh,” Toi said.

The Hindu kingdom of Champa emerged around present-day Da Nang in the late 2ndcentury AD. Like Funan, it adopted Sanskrit as a sacred language and borrowedheavily from Indian art and culture. By the 8th century, Champa had expandedsouthwards to include what is now Nha Trang city and Phan Rang city. Forcenturies, the Cham people occupied the vast and prosperous Kingdom of Champa.The empire collapsed in 1471.-VNS/VNA