Mystery of the ruins of an ancient tower about 1,000 years old in Gia Lai

Previously, Gia Lai Provincial Museum coordinated with experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi National University) to open the first excavation in 3 pits and expand the research area to 300 square meters at the Phu An tower ruins.

Local workers and experts are excavating the Phu An ruins. Photo: XUAN HUYEN

The excavation results revealed 6 main relics, including: brick tower foundations, brick walls and long house architectural foundations... In addition, the archaeological excavation discovered 17,650 artifacts such as: terracotta, bricks, leaf-shaped tiles, cow horn tiles, household ceramics (clay pottery, porcelain, ceramics) and Song Dynasty coins...

Sketch of brick foundation positions and brick wall strips revealing the ruins of Phu An tower

According to experts, Phu An ruins have been devastated over many periods, in which human activities of farming, agricultural production, and brick mining have also caused severe damage to the ruins. The scope of the first archaeological excavation is limited to only 300m2 ^/ 2,700m2 ^, so the information and value of the relics have not been clarified.

However, initial results revealed many clues and information showing that Phu An used to be a large-scale Cham tower complex, built from the 10th to 12th centuries, bearing the mark of the intersection of many cultures.

Cow horn brick and tile artifacts found at the Phu An tower ruins

Unique human-faced bricks found at the ruins of Phu An Cham tower

At the conference, Dr. Nguyen Huu Manh (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) said that the excavation results at Phu An tower showed a history of the development of ancient pottery kilns in Binh Dinh from the 12th to 13th centuries. The cow horn tiles and leaf-shaped tiles found could have been made from ancient kilns by the skillful hands of the Cham people.

Experts discuss and clarify some artifacts found from Phu An ruins.

According to Dr. Manh, the ancient Phu An tower could have been a “transit anchor” in production activities, cultural and religious life between the plains and the mountains in the ancient Champa homeland. With the scale of the tower ruins, it could have been an important religious center of the ancient Champa kingdom…

At the conference, experts recommended that the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province soon demarcate the excavation area and continue research and conduct archaeological excavations to clarify the value of the relic.

The scene clearly revealed the brick foundation and the brick strip of Phu An tower ruins. Photo: XUAN HUYEN

Experts suggest that Gia Lai province should soon develop an archaeological planning map for the entire system of Cham towers and ruins in the area. Along with that, integrate and digitize related data to serve storage, research and tourism activities, public education, youth, etc.

Ceramic artifacts found at the ruins of Phu An tower

Fragmented pottery found during excavation

Concluding the conference, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province, Huynh Van Loi, requested the Provincial Museum to absorb experts' opinions and implement measures to isolate and protect the site, especially during the rainy season, to ensure drainage and avoid causing insecurity.

Experts are discussing and clarifying the cow horn tile artifacts found at Phu An tower.

In the coming time, it is necessary to conduct thorough research and evaluation to propose whether to continue the archaeological excavation of Phu An tower relic or not. If it continues, it is necessary to consider proposing specific excavation areas to clarify the values and information of the relic.

In addition, Mr. Loi requested the Provincial Museum to coordinate in developing an archaeological planning map of all Cham tower relics, and to propose implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; or to separate it to submit to the Provincial People's Committee to request funding for implementation.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bi-an-phe-tich-thap-co-khoang-1000-nam-tuoi-o-gia-lai-post814921.html