Permission has been granted for phase 2 archaeological excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site.

VHO - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just issued Decision No. 1064 allowing the second phase of archaeological excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers national monument, Huong Xuan ward (Huong Tra town, Hue city).

Archaeological excavation site at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic in 2024. Photo: VT

According to a decision by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, archaeological exploration and excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site will continue to be carried out by the National Historical Museum and the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City.

The archaeological exploration and excavation will be conducted for nearly two months, from April 25th to June 20th, 2025. The exploration and excavation will be led by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat of the National Museum of History.

According to Decision 1064/QD-BVHTTDL, experts will conduct exploratory and archaeological excavations over an area of ​​66m2. This includes an exploration area of ​​6m2, comprising two pits of 3m2 each. The excavation area is 60m2, consisting of two pits: Pit 1 with an area of ​​50m2 and Pit 2 with an area of ​​10m2.

During archaeological exploration and excavation, the National History Museum and the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City need to pay attention to protecting the stratigraphy of the site; they are responsible for educating the public about protecting local cultural heritage. Official conclusions should not be published without the agreement of the managing agency and the Department of Cultural Heritage.

A Buddha head relief was found during an archaeological excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site. Photo: S. THUY

The artifacts collected during archaeological exploration and excavation must be preserved and protected by the relevant units to prevent damage or loss, and a plan for protecting and promoting their value must be reported to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

During the archaeological excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site in 2024, specialized units determined the layout, scale, and structure of the North temple complex; identified the location of the Gate Tower, the Fire Tower, the eastern perimeter wall system, and the pathway connecting the South Tower to the North Tower.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, Deputy Head of the Research and Collection Department at the National Museum of History, the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site differs from other Champa temple sites in Central Vietnam because it only has two main temples. Archaeological excavations in 2024 only identified two main temples within the site, with no sign of a third temple.

Archaeological excavations of the North Tower at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site have led experts to conclude that the tower was built in the 9th century, corresponding to the age of the My Son C2 tower. Photo: S. THUY

During the 2024 excavation, the archaeological team also discovered and recovered a large quantity of artifacts, totaling 4,807 specimens. These mainly consisted of architectural materials, architectural decorations, fragments of stone steles and reliefs, glazed pottery, stoneware, earthenware, and metal coins.

Notably, the collection includes a Buddha head relief sculpture dating back to the 11th-12th centuries; and three relatively intact Champa lime containers from the 9th-11th centuries…

According to representatives from the Hue City Department of Culture and Sports, conducting the second phase of archaeological excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site is necessary to clarify more information and gain a more complete understanding of the site. This will then serve as a basis for developing long-term and sustainable conservation and promotion solutions for the national historical site of Lieu Coc Twin Towers.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/cho-phep-khai-quat-khao-co-giai-doan-2-tai-di-tich-thap-doi-lieu-coc-128567.html