Many new discoveries after the archaeological excavation of the National Monument of Lieu Coc Twin Towers

Performed by: Le Chung | June 28, 2024

(Fatherland) - After more than 2 months of archaeological exploration and excavation at the National Architectural and Artistic Relic of Lieu Coc Twin Towers, many new discoveries have contributed to the scientific basis for building a plan to preserve, restore and promote the value of this relic.

The Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic is located in Lieu Coc Thuong village, Bau Thap hamlet, now Xuan Thap residential group (Huong Xuan ward, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien Hue province). This is a typical architectural work of the Cham people, with many values ​​in terms of science, history, culture, architecture, religion, beliefs...

The monument consists of two towers built close together (about 2.8m apart) on two parallel axes in the East-West direction, the entrance to the towers is on the East side. The name "Lieu Coc Twin Towers" is taken from the name of Lieu Coc village and the scale of the two towers to name the monument.

In 1994, the Minister of Culture - Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) signed a decision to rank the Lieu Coc Twin Towers as a National Architectural - Artistic Relic according to Decision No. 921/QD/BT dated July 20, 1994. Although the current state has been seriously degraded and damaged, compared to the Champa temples known from Bac My Son ( Quang Nam ) and beyond, besides Phu Dien Tower, Lieu Coc Twin Towers is the relic that is assessed to have the best preservation status.

From the end of April to the beginning of June 2024, the National Museum of History in coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thua Thien Hue province conducted archaeological exploration and excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic. The exploration area is 20m2 (4 pits), the excavation area is 60m2 (3 pits). This archaeological research and excavation is to clearly determine the scale, structure, nature and age of the relic. From there, it will serve the planning, conservation, restoration and promotion of the overall value of the relic.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, an officer of the National History Museum, who presided over the archaeological exploration and excavation, said that the excavation process expanded and connected the excavation pits (H1, H2, H3) together to form a large pit (9.4 x 10.3m), surrounding the foundation of the North tower. Thereby, the ground plan, scale and structure of the North tower temple architecture were clearly determined.

The scale and structure of the North Tower have 4 parts: Foundation, tower base, tower body and tower roof. The tower roof alone has collapsed, cannot be recognized; the tower body has also collapsed more than half so the recognition is also limited. From the foundation to the tower body, all are built with bricks, bricks are arranged horizontally and vertically, in which the outer covering and inner surface of the foundation and tower walls all use intact bricks, but the core wall is mostly broken bricks mixed with pure yellow clay.

Bricks were used to build the Liugu Twin Towers.

To fully determine the scale and overall structure of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic, experts also opened 5 exploration pits, including 2 pits in the East along the central axis of the North Tower, 1 pit in the Northeast corner, 1 pit in the Southeast corner and 1 pit in the West.

In the exploratory pits, the locations of the Gate Tower (gopura), the Fire Tower (kosagraha), the Eastern wall system (antarmandala) and the path connecting the South Tower to the North Tower were determined.

"Through the results of excavation and observation of the current surface, we initially identified only two main towers in the relic, and saw no signs of a third tower. If there are only two main towers, then the Lieu Coc Twin Towers are a special relic, the only one in the Champa temple relic system with two main towers. Normally, Champa temple relics are distributed along the Central region of Vietnam. During the research process, only a system of one or three main towers was recorded, and there was no case of two main towers like in Lieu Coc," Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat assessed.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, in parallel with revealing the scale of the North Tower's architectural foundation structure and other related architectural vestiges, during the excavation process, a huge amount of relics including more than 4,800 specimens were also collected. In which, the main focus is on architectural materials, architectural decorations, stone stele fragments and reliefs, glazed ceramics, porcelain, earthenware and metal coins.

Architectural materials include 3,936 specimens of bricks and tiles, of which bricks account for the majority with 3,920 specimens, and tiles have 16 pieces. Pottery was found in many different shapes and materials. The discovered metal coin is 1 "Nguyen Phong thong bao" coin written in Hanh thao style, dated 13th century.

The architectural decorations found at the site are mainly decorative accents on the corners of the towers. The decorations are made of yellow-gray sandstone, in addition to the simple block-shaped artifacts, smooth surfaces, shaped like Nandin bull heads, with a mane on top, and a long pin inserted deep into the corners of the towers. A total of 50 pieces have been identified with bull head decorations, including 2 intact artifacts.

Stone relics found 4 specimens, especially including a Buddha relief head dating from the 11th-12th century. It can be said that this is a precious collection of artifacts, certainly after research, editing, appraisal and scientific documentation will provide a lot of important information, helping research and display to promote value.

Through research and excavation practices, experts also recommended the need to continue expanding the area of ​​​​research and archaeological excavation to clearly determine the scale, original structure, nature, characteristics, and age of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic. From there, it will be a scientific basis for building a plan to preserve, restore and promote the value of the relic, and build a dossier explaining the relic in accordance with its inherent value.

In addition, it is necessary to study and strengthen the tower wall system to avoid deterioration and collapse; clean the brick surface, prevent moss and mold and trees from growing over the architecture. In the lower part of the foundation, it is necessary to fill the ground and re-pave the tower yard, leaving only the tower base and tower walls exposed. Design a roof house for the two main tower structures. Use modern technology to help visitors visualize the complete tower structure. Research to create a Champa cultural museum in Thua Thien Hue, right at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic...

Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Information of Thua Thien Hue province, said that although the scope of the recent archaeological excavation was still very limited, it had yielded many new discoveries, further affirming the great values ​​of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic. After this period, the Department of Culture and Information will propose to the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province to soon continue to expand the second phase of archaeological excavation of this relic. If this can be done, there will be a basis and plan to preserve and promote its long-term value.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/nhieu-phat-hien-moi-sau-dot-khai-quat-khao-co-di-tich-quoc-gia-thap-doi-lieu-coc-20240628003952319.htm