How are the 4 national treasures in Quang Tri being protected?

According to Mr. Ngo Quoc Phong, Deputy Director of the Center, the 4 national treasures include: 2 reliefs of Tra Lien Leaf (also known as Tra Lien Tympan 1 and 2), Uma Duong Le Statue and Tra Loc Bronze Drum.

The two Leaf Ear reliefs have been built with solid roofs to withstand harsh weather and prevent weathering - Photo: Tran Tuyen

The two reliefs of the Tra Lien Leaf were both discovered at the Tra Lien Cham tower area, in Trieu Giang commune, Trieu Phong district. Both artifacts were carved from sandstone, in the Dong Duong art style, dating from the second half of the 9th century. The Tra Lien Leaf Relief 1 has a broken left corner, is 1.21 m high, 0.2 m thick and has a base diameter of 1.54 m. Meanwhile, the Tra Lien Leaf Relief 2 is quite intact, 1.2 m high, 0.17 m thick and has a base diameter of 2.1 m. The carved details on the relief demonstrate the sophisticated techniques and aesthetic concepts typical of ancient Cham sculpture.

The Uma Duong Le statue is a round statue of the goddess Uma sitting on a pedestal, made of sandstone, weighing 125 kg, 0.6 m high. The statue is in the Tra Kieu style, late 9th century - early 10th century. This is a transitional period in the development of Cham art, with a harmonious combination of sacred elements and sophisticated plastic art.

The Tra Loc bronze drum was discovered in March 1998 in the Ru Cat area, Tra Loc village, Hai Xuan commune (now Hai Hung commune), Hai Lang district. The drum has a face diameter of 33.5 cm, a foot diameter of 41.5 cm, a height of 27 cm and weighs 8 kg. The patterns on the face and body of the drum are still clear, reflecting the typical style of the Dong Son culture - a brilliant civilization that once existed in ancient Vietnam.

Mr. Ngo Quoc Phong said that the Center always pays special attention to the protection and preservation of national treasures. Specifically, the two Leaf Reliefs have been built with solid roofs to withstand harsh weather and prevent weathering. The Tra Loc bronze drum is currently on display in a specialized glass cabinet, ensuring suitable temperature and humidity conditions.

As for the Uma Duong Le Statue, due to the serious deterioration of the exhibition space “ Quang Tri – Champa and Dai Viet Era”, the statue has been temporarily moved to the warehouse for preservation. The Center is planning to renovate the exhibition space, and when completed, the Uma Statue will be brought back to serve visitors and researchers.

To protect the artifacts in general and the four national treasures in particular, the Center has installed a surveillance camera system, built a solid protective fence, and arranged personnel to directly monitor. Each artifact has its own monitoring mode, depending on the material, oxidation level, and environmental impact.

Inspections are conducted periodically to detect early risks of damage, thereby implementing appropriate preservation measures. “To date, basically the artifacts and documents, including 4 national treasures, are being well protected and preserved.

We consider this an important part of our responsibility in preserving and promoting the cultural and historical values of our homeland Quang Tri," Mr. Phong affirmed.

Tran Tuyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/4-bao-vat-quoc-gia-o-quang-tri-dang-duoc-bao-ve-ra-sao-194005.htm