Tra Kieu Story

VHXQ - Tra Kieu is not only an archaeological site, it is a center of power and culture with the core meaning of the Champa kingdom in history. Through excavations and in-depth research, we have revealed an interesting perspective on this site.

Tra Kieu national relic at present. Photo: Phi Thanh

The interestingness of archaeological sites

Archaeological documents (along with stele documents) have shown four interesting points of Tra Kieu. First, the Tra Kieu archaeological site is a priceless historical and cultural treasure, providing vivid evidence of the glorious period of the Champa kingdom.

This place is a meeting place of history, art and archaeology, carrying many layers of profound meaning. Reality has proven that up to now, this relic has recorded 6 surveys and each survey has clarified many issues, even reinforced or provided data to change previous assessments.

Second, based on archaeological documents, steles and research by scholars, Tra Kieu is identified as the first capital of the Champa kingdom, which existed for nearly 250 years under the name Simhapura (Lion capital). Tra Kieu's prime location on a low hill next to the Thu Bon River created favorable conditions for the development of a major political , military and cultural center. This is where the Cham kings, typically King Prakasadharma (7th century) ruled and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the kingdom.

Later, although the Champa capital moved to the southern lands, Tra Kieu still held an important strategic role.

Hill view showing the residence of the superintendent of the Tra Kieu citadel area in 1928. Source: JY Claeys

Its location on the waterway connecting two other key centres, My Son (religious centre) and the ancient port town of Hoi An ( economic centre), ensured that Tra Kieu was not forgotten.

During the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries, the area continued to be a thriving economic and religious centre, a crossroads of cultural, commercial and religious flows. This development left behind a rich cultural legacy, testament to the enduring vitality of this land.

Third, from the sculptures and architectural decorations found, especially those dating from the 10th century, a distinct, sophisticated and expressive style was created, which researchers call the Tra Kieu style.

This style is expressed through reliefs, statues of gods and architectural decorative details bearing the strong imprint of Hinduism but strongly localized, demonstrating the creativity of Cham artisans. Along with high aesthetic value, this is a valuable source of information to learn about the beliefs, customs and cosmological concepts of the Cham people.

Fourth, Tra Kieu is not a single site but a complex of archaeological sites, including traces of settlements, citadels, temples and political centers. The relics found underground and on the ground date from different periods over a millennium, from the pre-Cham period to the flourishing Champa kingdom. The excavations at Tra Kieu provide a comprehensive view of the development of an ancient urban area.

And because of the complexity and multi-layered nature of the site, researching and determining the exact age of each structure and each artifact is a big challenge.

Scientists must use many different methods, from stratigraphic analysis, comparison of artistic styles to decoding inscriptions to be able to build the most complete and accurate historical picture. Tra Kieu archaeological site is a typical example of complexity, stratigraphic disturbance, requiring interdisciplinary knowledge, especially inscriptions and was carried out nearly 100 years since the first archaeological excavation in 1927.

Current status after excavation at Tra Kieu. Photo: Phi Thanh

Tra Kieu - Where the past meets the future

Tra Kieu ancient citadel relic was recognized as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2013. The key point now is how to turn Tra Kieu relic into an attractive cultural and historical destination?

It is thought that it is possible to build an exhibition center or mini museum right in the locality, introducing artifacts, images, and stories about the history of Tra Kieu citadel. Organize tours combined with visits to other Champa relics such as My Son, Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, to create a complete cultural tourism route.

It is necessary to encourage cultural, artistic and educational activities associated with the relic, such as historical reenactment programs and workshops on Cham culture, to make this heritage more vivid and closer to the public.

In the context of technological development, along with the nature and status of Cham relics, a breakthrough idea is to combine Tra Kieu archaeological relics with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology.

Instead of just looking at the ruins, visitors will be able to “relive” the glorious period of the Champa kingdom. In the long term, there needs to be a 3D virtual museum, allowing visitors to explore the entire Tra Kieu citadel vividly right on their phones or computers.

The architectural works and artifacts will be recreated in detail and realistically. Along with that, when visiting the relics, visitors can use their phones to scan QR codes at archaeological sites, displaying 3D models of the temples and palaces that once existed there, helping them to more easily visualize the overall area.

It is possible to build a VR experience area where visitors wear VR glasses and become an ancient Champa citizen, walking on the streets, participating in festivals and witnessing ancient life with their own eyes. These works require time, investment resources and private participation can be successful if the management agency creates a legal corridor and necessary support.

And Tra Kieu will be an interesting place where the past meets the future.

Excavations at Tra Kieu

The history of research and excavation at Tra Kieu has taken place in many stages, with the participation of both domestic and foreign scholars. The first stage (1927-1928), the excavation was conducted by JY Claeys, a French archaeologist from the École Française d'Extrême-Orient. Many valuable artifacts were found at this excavation, which were then displayed at the Museum of Cham Sculpture. JY Claeys' work laid the foundation for later research at Tra Kieu. Then, in 1985, the second excavation began. From February 1990 to 2013, there were about 5 more exploratory excavations.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/cau-chuyen-tra-kieu-3301443.html