Workers discovered two Champa reliefs at Duong Long Tower.

On January 24th, the Gia Lai Provincial Museum announced that a group of workers had discovered two Champa reliefs at the Duong Long Cham Tower (Binh An commune, Gia Lai province; formerly part of Tay Son district, Binh Dinh province).

The museum has now brought these two artifacts back for preservation and display.

Previously, on January 21st, while clearing the area around the Duong Long Tower in preparation for excavation and archaeological work, a group of workers discovered two artifacts located about 15 meters from the North Tower. One of them was a relief of a goddess, 1.06 meters high and 0.6 meters wide, identified as having been used to decorate the tower's roof. The relief, carved from sandstone, depicts a goddess standing with lotus flowers in her hands. This detail is quite different from similar reliefs previously discovered. Around the relief are carved Makara arches and flame patterns.

The remaining artifact is a sandstone lion relief, 0.42 m high and 0.44 m wide, originally used to decorate the base of the tower. Both artifacts are located at a depth of approximately 60 cm below ground and are estimated to date from the late 12th to early 13th centuries.

Relief sculptures of goddesses were discovered at Duong Long Tower.

PHOTO: DUC NHAT

A sandstone lion relief. PHOTO: DUC NHAT

The Duong Long Tower is considered the tallest brick tower in Southeast Asia. PHOTO: DUC NHAT

According to Mr. Bui Tinh, Director of the Gia Lai Provincial Museum, the unit will report to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to advise the Provincial People's Committee to request approval for the urgent excavation of the Duong Long tower area, in order to further clarify the historical and cultural value of this relic complex.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang of the Gia Lai Provincial Historical Science Association, Duong Long Tower has the highest density of stone decorations among the Cham towers in Vietnam. Over hundreds of years, many stone artifacts have fallen from the tower and are scattered in the surrounding area. If excavations are not expanded, these valuable artifacts risk being permanently buried.

Duong Long Tower, also known as An Chanh Tower, Binh An Tower, or Ivory Tower, is a special national monument. The tower was built by the Champa people in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The structure is located on a high hilltop in Binh An commune. The complex consists of the Central Tower, the South Tower, and the North Tower, built on a total area of ​​approximately 370 m². The Central Tower is the tallest and most central structure, reaching a height of 39 m. According to the Vietnam National Heritage Administration, the Central Tower is considered the tallest brick tower in Southeast Asia.

Besides its architectural value, Duong Long Tower also reflects the religious life and artistic level of the Champa civilization during the Vijaya period. Many valuable artifacts have been discovered here, such as reliefs of Brahma, Indra, Naga serpents, Makara, Kala, etc.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cong-nhan-phat-hien-2-phu-dieu-champa-tai-thap-duong-long-185260124200410465.htm