Revealing more mysteries in My Son

Recently, the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) conducted an archaeological survey around the K tower area of the My Son Relic Site (Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province). The results have revealed more mysteries that have long been hidden deep underground in this heritage site.

Discovery of the "Royal Road"

Experts have conducted 5 exploratory holes on an area of 20 m2 (4 m2/hole) around Tower K in the My Son Relic Site. The excavation team said that the area around Tower K is currently a dense forest area but it can still be seen that this is a fairly flat and airy space. The architectural remains are two sections of the surrounding walls extending from Tower K to the East, towards Towers E - F deep inside the My Son valley. The surrounding walls were built by building/arranging bricks in double rows on both sides, with broken bricks stuffed in the middle. The wall has a large foundation at the bottom and then gradually narrows towards the top with a width of about 46 cm. Experts believe that this road could have many functions such as the Shinto - the path of Hindu gods; the Royal Road - the road for Champa kings and monks to worship their gods; or in modern language today, this is the road leading to the My Son Sanctuary.

Experts have conducted 5 exploratory holes on an area of 20 m2 around Tower K in My Son Relic Site, thereby discovering many mysteries. Photo: PROVIDED BY MY SON CULTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT BOARD

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy, Institute of Archaeology (chairing the survey), said that this is a newly known architectural work because it was destroyed a long time ago, buried under a thick layer of alluvial forest soil. Through the relationship of the ruins of the path with tower K, it can be initially determined that the path dates back to the 12th century, equivalent to the age of tower K. "The results of this exploration have determined that there was a path starting from tower K leading to the central area of My Son Sanctuary in the 12th century, which is known to domestic and international archeological and historical researchers for the first time. We believe that the nature of the path is most fully expressed in its name, "Royal Road" - the path leading to the sacred space of My Son Sanctuary" - Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy shared.

Many architectural vestiges were discovered, which are two sections of the surrounding walls extending from tower K to the East, towards tower areas E - F. Photo: PROVIDED BY MY SON CULTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT BOARD

According to Dr. Quy, the research results also raise a number of scientific issues that need to be further resolved. Firstly, the traces of the "Royal Road" have been discovered, but how far does it extend and does it lead straight to area E - F as we have guessed? Secondly, the road's age is currently being preliminarily determined to be around the 12th century, equivalent to the age of tower K. However, according to the remaining inscriptions, the towers in My Son were built from the 5th century; the earliest remaining architectural vestige is tower F1 dating to the end of the 8th century. So is it possible to find traces of a road leading to My Son Sanctuary before the 12th century? Related to the second issue is a very important issue, which is whether My Son Sanctuary has changed in sacred space through each historical period or not?

Need to research, bring to light

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy said that the results of archaeological surveys in the area around Tower K have revealed many traces of architectural works that have never been known in My Son in the history of the relic's existence up to now. The archaeological research on the system of architectural ruins of the path in the area around Tower K to clarify the presence of the "Royal Road" leading to the My Son Holy Land of the ancient Cham people is a very necessary task. The research results will contribute to helping the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board better promote the historical and cultural values of the relic; organize to pick up and drop off tourists along the path left by the Cham people, helping tourists have a clearer view of the My Son Holy Land and the Cham culture in history.

"One touch" to understand the world heritage My Son

Therefore, in the immediate future, it is necessary to have a plan to continue excavating and researching to clarify a section of the "Royal Road", bringing this relic from the underground of My Son to light so that domestic and international tourists, those interested in the Cham-pa cultural heritage in general and My Son in particular, can have a more detailed understanding of the relic. In the more distant future, it is necessary to have a plan to research and excavate the entire "Royal Road" relic to collect more scientific documents to determine the characteristics and properties of the relic in the overall My Son relic area, from which there will be a plan to restore, preserve and promote the value of the relic appropriately.

The Institute of Archaeology proposed that the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board submit to the People's Committee of Duy Xuyen district and relevant agencies for consideration and approval to continue implementing the task of "Exploring and excavating archaeological remains of the architectural path to the east of K tower - My Son" in 2023. At the same time, agreeing on the investment policy of the project "Excavating and researching the archaeological architecture of the path to My Son Sanctuary" expected to be implemented in the period of 2024-2026.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Deputy Director of the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board, said that the discovery of the "Royal Road" is of great significance in researching and exploring the mysteries of My Son. "Hopefully, very useful information and new information about the My Son temple complex will be announced in the near future," Mr. Khiet said.

Much to discover