Further evidence emerges of previously unknown structures at My Son.

(NLĐO) – Initial excavation results have revealed traces of a road more than 150 meters long – a structure previously unknown in the history of My Son research.

On the afternoon of December 12th, at the My Son Sanctuary (Thu Bon commune, Da Nang city), the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board and the Institute of Archaeology held a workshop to report on the results of archaeological excavation and research on the architectural structures leading to the My Son sanctuary.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Deputy Director in charge of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board, and Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Van Doanh chaired the workshop.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Deputy Director in charge of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board, and Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Van Doanh chaired the workshop.

According to the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board, from July to the end of November 2025, the unit and the Institute of Archaeology will implement a collaborative excavation program to study the architecture of the sacred road connecting Tower K to the central area of ​​My Son. Initial results have revealed traces of a road more than 150 meters long – a structure previously unknown in the history of My Son research.

This route was first explored in 2023 and first excavated in 2024, covering an area of ​​220 m². In 2025, experts continued to expand the excavation by an additional 770 m² to clarify the architectural remains. This includes a 75 m section east of Tower K, oriented east-west with a 45-degree northward deviation, bringing the total length of the identified route to 132 m.

The road is 9 meters wide, with a 7.9-meter-wide carriageway and a flat surface made of compacted sand, gravel, and broken bricks, 15-20 cm thick. On either side are brick walls, some sections of which have tilted or collapsed over time. The wall foundations are reinforced with pebbles and brick powder.

Delegates discussed the architecture of the access road to the My Son sanctuary.

Notably, the north wall is built as a single block, while the south wall is lower and has at least four locations for gates/doorways. At these locations, traces of stone door lintels with square and round mortise holes – structures used to support stone pillars and door hinges – can still be found.

Besides architectural remains, fragments of glazed and terracotta pottery dating from the 10th–12th centuries have also been discovered. The collected evidence suggests that this sacred road served as a ceremonial route for deities, kings, and Brahmin priests to access the My Son Sanctuary during the 11th–12th centuries.

This is a previously unknown finding in the history of My Son research.

This discovery confirms that My Son continued to hold a central religious position for Champa throughout history, and also shows that the scope of the sacred space there changed depending on the dynasty.

Comparative studies also indicate that the newly discovered ceremonial route at My Son is unique within the Champa relic system, differing from other sites in that the path is designed to lead directly to the central temple tower.

At the conference, experts and researchers unanimously agreed that the newly discovered site is indeed the sacred road – the site where important religious rituals of the ancient Champa people took place.

The biggest challenge now is not just determining the nature of the road, but also how to protect it and the next steps in researching, restoring, and promoting the value of the historical site.

Many opinions emphasize the need for continued excavation to better understand the sacred path and sacred space, the large-scale temples and towers that were destroyed, and to shed more light on the ancient ceremonial space…

Looking ahead, the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board and the Institute of Archaeology will continue to research and clarify the scale, structure, and overall appearance of the road within the entire complex; and at the same time, urgently restore and preserve it to enhance its heritage value. The unit also aims to organize tours for visitors via this ancient road to help tourists better visualize the sacred space and Champa culture.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/lo-them-bang-chung-ve-cong-trinh-chua-tung-duoc-biet-o-my-son-196251212161244027.htm